Late goal by Sebastian brings Dynamo comeback victory over Rubin

# RPL

The encounter of the RPL 16th round that was held at the Ak Bars Arena ended in a 3:2 win.

Sandro Schwarz decided to repeat the starting line-up that had brought Dynamo a first round victory over Rubin Kazan. Varela appeared on the right wing of the defense, while Zakharyan, Grulev and Makarov formed an attacking trio. Tyukavin remained on the bench for the first time in five rounds.

The White-Blues started more actively, but the first shot at the goal was made by the hosts — the Rubin top scorer Dreyer sent the ball over the crossbar. Later, the Kazan side focused on long-range strikes due to Hakšabanović and Hwang’s efforts.

Dynamo succeeded after the first corner kick: Zakharyan returned the ball to the penalty area, Makarov made a witty heel pass to Fomin, and Daniil beat Dyupin from close range. Unfortunately, the goal was denied by a VAR offside decision. The second corner kick by the visitors was no less dangerous — Moro won an aerial duel, but the Kazan goalkeeper saved his teammates at the far post.

Under pressure, Rubin players began to make mistakes that helped Dynamo break the deadlock: Makarov finished perfectly the three on three counterattack. Grulev started this race and Denis sent Dreyer sprawling the wrong way, before he calmly stroked a cool finish past his former teammate Dyupin. Makarov became the first footballer who managed to score after moving from Rubin to Dynamo.  

Our team could double the lead after another corner kick: Moro diverted a Fabián Balbuena’s volley onto the crossbar. Rubin equalized unexpectedly due to their wingers' combination: Kvaratskhelia played a give-and-go with Hakšabanović and found Bakayev in the penalty area, whose chested control did enough to tee up a drilled volley back across goal into the bottom corner.

The second half started with a goal from Rubin. Hakšabanović hit the post from 10 meters, Zuyev was the first on the rebound being caught by Guillermo Varela’s sliding tackle. Dreyer confidently converted the penalty awarded for this foul.

In the 60th minute, Schwarz made the first substitution: Tyukavin came on the pitch instead of Fomin and moved to the centre-forward position. Grulev shifted to the left wing, while Zakharyan settled in the midfield. Dynamo deserved a penalty soon: Georgy Zotov endured a torrid time, when his outstretched arm made contact with the ball. Nikola Moro offered a gift to the hosts kicking wide.

This episode did not disappoint the White-Blues and even waked them. The Moscow side succeeded after the following set-piece. Szymanski assisted on Balbuena’s header who scored in the second consecutive match — 2:2. In his turn, Seba became the best assist maker of the championship having six helpers.

Dynamo continued to attack and create goalscoring chances. And in the 85th minute, this pressure brought a necessary result: Grulev found Skopintsev on the left wing, Dmitry crossed well and Aleksandr Zuyev's header out could only reach Szymanski, who took a touch before steering it past Dyupin into the far corner.

Dynamo solidified their hold on the second place in the standings with 32 points. In the next round match that will be held on December 5, the Moscow side will play against Ufa at home.