First success

by Giya Saralidze, VK

Igor Akinfeyev, goalkeeper of CSKA FC, came 15th in the list of the best goalkeepers of the 21st century, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, and Spartak FC won its first title in 9 years.

Igor Akinfeyev is the best goalkeeper of the last years in Russia. The list is headed by Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus, followed by Iker Casillas of Real Madrid and Petr Čech of Chelsea (London). Other well-known players are on the list as well: Edwin van der Sar (Holland), Oliver Rolf Kahn and Jens Gerhard Lehmann (Germany). Other Russians in the list are Ruslan Nigmatullin (45th) and Sergey Ovchinnikov (60th) and Vyacheslav Malafeyev from St. Petersburg Zenit (64th).

Spartak FC beat Copenhagen FC in the final match of the Copa del Sol 1:0. It is the first significant success of the club since Oleg Romantsev’s team won the Russian Cup in 2003.

The previous two rounds, traditionally held in Spain, were won by Russian and Ukrainian clubs. The final match between CSKA and Shakhtar Donetsk was cancelled due to rain. Both teams were declared winners. Lvov Karpaty won the trophy the next year. Moscow Spartak won its third Cup.

Players of Spartak FC and Copenhagen FC were playing cautiously in the first half of the of the final match. Nicolas Pareja scored the first goal in the 33rd minute. It was the only goal in the match. All attempts to even the score by the Dutch champion, who enhanced the tempo, brought no results. Andrey Dikan, captain of the team and goalkeeper, saved the team at the very end.

Valery Karpin won the title together with his team for the first time and said: "When you reach the final, regardless of your rank in the competitions, you want to win. This victory over a worthy opponent, Copenhagen FC, is important for every player personally and the team as a whole. Primarily from the psychological aspect."