Krasnodar and Ural to Meet in the Russian Football Cup Play-off Final

As a source in Krasnodar told TASS, on Wednesday at the stadium of the same name, which seats 35,179 spectators, about 25,000 tickets were sold as of Tuesday evening. The interlocutor of the agency clarified that we are talking not only about sold tickets for the game with Ural, but also about season ticket holders. In total, approximately 27,000 fans are expected to attend the second stage of the “playoffs of the path of the regions” Cup of Russia, including fans of the away team.

“Krasnodar” in the group stage “the path of the World – the Russian Premier League (RPL)” took first place in the group with the Moscow “Locomotive”, “Pari Nizhny Novgorod” and the suburban “Khimki”. At the first stage of the RPL path playoffs, Krasnodar went to CSKA, to whom they lost on aggregate in two matches (0:3 away, 1:0 at home) and went to the playoffs of the regions’ path. In the lower bracket of the playoffs of the Cup of Russia, the team of Serbian specialist Vladimir Ivic in a one-match format defeated Grozny Akhmat (3:0), Rostov (1:1, 5:3 on penalties), Samara Krylya Sovetov (2 :2, 3:0 – on penalties) and Akron Togliatti (0:0, 4:2 – on penalties). In case of victory, Krasnodar will bring the number of meetings with the Moscow army team in the 2022/23 season to five – in addition to two matches in the Russian Cup, they have already met once in the RPL (CSKA victory in Moscow with a score of 4: 1), one more game is scheduled on May 27th.

Ural completed the group stage of the RPL path, taking first place in the group with CSKA, Moscow Torpedo and Sochi. The team of Belarusian specialist Viktor Goncharenko reached the finals of the “playoff of the RPL path”, having passed Rostov (1:1 – away, 2:1 – at home) and Spartak Moscow (1:1 – away, 2:1 – at home), where they again met with CSKA (1:1 – away, 1:2 – at home) and went to the second stage of the “playoffs of the path of the regions” final. In case of victory on Wednesday, Ural will meet with the army team for the seventh time (in the RPL, Muscovites won two victories, and Yekaterinburg won one out of four matches in the Russian Cup, drawing once and suffering two defeats).

On Wednesday, Vladimir Ivic will not be able to count on four injured players – defender Yegor Sorokin, as well as midfielders Kevin Lenini, Nikita Krivtsov and Kadi Borges. His colleague Viktor Goncharenko will have to do without the suspended goalkeeper Ilya Pomazun and defender Silvie Begich, as well as the injured defense player Yegor Filipenko and three midfielders – Igor Konovalov, Oleg Shatov and Yuri Gazinsky.

Krasnodar and Ural have played 25 matches in history, 20 of which were in the RPL, four in the second division of Russian football and one in the Russian Cup. The previous time the teams’ paths in this tournament crossed in 2017, then Yekaterinburg was stronger (3:3, 4:3 – on penalties). In the Football National League, the teams have parity – one win with two draws, in the Russian Premier League Krasnodar’s advantage is impressive – 11 wins against three for the opponent with six draws.

Krasnodar as a favorite

According to the former head coach of Krasnodar Alexander Storozhuk, his former team has a great chance of reaching the Russian Cup superfinal. “The prospects are very positive, since Krasnodar has good, qualified players,” Storozhuk said. – The fact that the team plays at home, given the logistics, will also help. I am sure that a full stadium will come – I felt how the fans know how to drive the team forward, ”said the specialist who led the team from March 2022 to January 2023.

“I am sure that Krasnodar will find its game, Ural will play number two. But I would not be critical to speak out about the fact that something did not work out for the opponent in the spring part of the season. All the same, this is a very organized team in terms of defense, which will use its chances both in quick attacks and from set pieces, ”the agency’s interlocutor emphasized.

“I think that the disqualification of key players, Ural leaders Ilya Pomazun and Silvie Begich will be a loss for this team. Pomazun showed himself as a leader at key moments. Thanks to him, Ural pulled out some games, ”added Storozhuk.

In assessing the importance of the role of the Ural goalkeeper, Alexander Tarkhanov, the former head coach of Yekaterinburg, agrees with him. “The disqualification of Ilya Pomazun is a loss. He personified the defense, confidently acted in the frame and on the exits. This is a goalkeeper of a very good level, ”said the source of the agency.

“Krasnodar, which plays at home, will have a slight advantage – due to this, it will be a favorite,” admitted Tarkhanov. – The main thing is that no one fell out in the attack. [Полузащитник “Урала”] Eric Bikfalvi did not score in the spring in the championship, but there were goals in the cup – maybe now he will cut through in the cup. I think that “Ural” will not be inferior to “Krasnodar” in anything.