Dynamo finish RPL season with bronze medals after loss to Sochi

# RPL
Arsen Zakharyan and Christian Noboa

Arsen Zakharyan and Christian Noboa

The encounter of the RPL 30th round that was held at VTB Arena ended in a 1:5 loss of Dynamo.

Sandro Schwarz preferred to make Igor Leshchuk a first-choice goalkeeper for the RPL last round match. This decision was explained by the necessity of giving him necessary practice one week before the Russian Cup final. The captain's armband came to Fabián Balbuena. After the disqualification Nikola Moro returned to the starting lineup, while Arsen Zakharyan moved to the right wing.

Dynamo players started well and the hosts' activity led to an early goal. Following the corner kick taking, Dmitry Skopintsev crossed to the far post. Zakharyan interplayed with Daniil Fomin and the latter curled the ball into the left corner with the help of Christian Noboa's header — 1:0.

Daniil Fomin

Daniil Fomin

The game turned out to be more interesting and during the next 25 minutes the spectators witnessed five cases of woodwork and two goals. Victorien Angban, Artur Yusupov and Daniil Fomin were unlucky in their attempts to change the score. But then good fortune ended for the goalkeepers. The visitors took a corner kick, Yusupov was the first on rebound and fired past Leshchuk. Dynamo keeper touched the ball with the fingertips but this was not enough to save the team.

The Sochi side didn't stop and continued to put pressure on Dynamo. Angban hit the left post with his tremendous 30-meter strike and Mateo Cassierra put the visitors ahead. By the end of the first half Vladimir Fedotov's men increased their lead. Cassierra capitalised on Noboa's assist and finished a one-on-one situation in Sochi's favor. In the next episode Leshchuk fouled on the Colombian inside the penalty box. Noboa converted a penalty and made it 4:1 for the Leopards.

Konstantin Tyukavin (in the middle)

Konstantin Tyukavin (in the middle)

During the break Schwarz replaced Moro for Konstantin Tyukavin focusing on two forwards at once. Dynamo players created several goal scoring chances that were potentially dangerous.

On the 57th minute, the White-Blues remained ten men, when Daniil Lesovoy stepped on Angban's ankle. Dynamo winger received a red card from the main referee. Ten minutes later the Sochi side benefited from the man advantage. Kirill Zaika made a low cross directly to Cassierra who scored an easy goal into the empty net.

The White-Blues spent the last minutes in desperate attacks but the final score remained unchanged.

Dynamo finished third in the RPL table on 53 points and won bronze medals for the first time since 2008. In the last match of the season the White-Blues will play against Spartak in the Russian Cup final on May 29.