UEFA Champions League: Rubin Kazan versus Copenhagen: Half Time Report
Score line: Rubin Kazan 1 45′ (PG) Christian Noboa Copenhagen 0
Venue: Central'nyj stadion Kazan' — Kazan'
Referee: M. Atkinson
Rubin Kazan starting line-up: Ryzhikov; Ansaldi, Navas, Bocchetti, Kaleshin; Ryazantsev, Kasaev, Noboa, Natcho, karadeniz; Kornilenko.
Copenhagen starting line-up: Wiland; Pospech, Antonsson, Wendt, Jorgensen; Vingaard, Kvist, Claudemir, Bolanos, Gronkjaer; N'Doye
The first half of fifth match of UEFA Champions League between Rubin Kazan and Copenhagen ended up with a one goal advantage to the Russian Champions, thanks to the dying minute penalty awarded by referee Martin Atkinson which was exceptionally slotted by
Rubin’s skipper Christian Noboa.
However, the first half at Russia failed to create much action as both teams started the game with a negative approach. There were very less chances created in the first forty five minutes from the both sides, and it looked like that the visitors were there
just for a draw.
Rubin Kazan entered this crucial game with a must win scenario in front of them. The Russian Giants would have to win this game in order to keep their Round of 16 hopes alive but the Tatars failed to produce such start and were struggling in the first few
minutes against the Danish Champions.
The first real chance of the match came in the eighth minute and it was the home side who managed to pull off the first attack of this crucial match. The Russian Champions attacked the opposition with pace on the wings and Bocchetti crossed the ball inside
Copenhangen penalty box which was easily cleared by Antonsson and Rubin Kazan won the first corner of the match. The corner was taken short and a crossed was played. Noboa reached the ball and targeted towards the goal which in the way struck Copenhagen defender.
Rubin appealed for the penalty but it was waved by Atkinson as they thought the ball hit the arm of Pospech.
Just a few minutes later the visitor’s midfielder Bolanos was shown a yellow card for a foul on Ansaldi. Soon after the first booking of the match, Copenhagen attacked the home with Gronkjaer starting the move. Gronkjaer played a long ball to Navas, who
showed extraordinary pace on right wing and crossed the ball towards Bolanos in Rubin’s penalty box. Bolanos took the controlled the ball exceptionally well but his effort on the goal from the close range went way wide of the post.
As the game wore on, the home side started to look more dangerous and the next attack from Rubin Kazan came right on the half hour mark, with Kornilenko shooting the ball towards the ball from the edge of the box which was some-how saved by the visitors
keeper, Wiland.
Three minutes before the half time, another yellow card was shown by the match official and this time it was Rubin’s defender Ryasantsev who received the warning for his mistimed challenge.
Few seconds later after that yellow card, a free kick was given in the visitors half to Rubin Kazan. As the players gathered inside the box and when Noboa tried to meet the free-kick he was shoved in the back from Gronjkaer inside the penalty area which
referee saw and gave the penalty straight away. The Tatars skipper stepped up to take the penalty and he scored from the box to give the Russian Champions a much needed lead.
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