At the VEB Arena in Moscow, a Russian Premier League Russian Cup group-stage game unfolded between CSKA and Sochi. The army team edged out the visitors in a penalty shootout after a drama-filled contest that stayed level through regular time and extra efforts. CSKA claimed victory from the spot, converting four of their attempts to Sochi’s two, sealing a 4-2 win in the shootout and advancing in the competition.
Sochi struck first through Christian Noboa in the 43rd minute, taking the lead just before halftime. CSKA bounced back when Ivan Oblyakov found the net in the 78th minute, restoring parity and sending the match toward extra time or penalties. Regulation time finished all square, leaving the outcome to be decided by the dreaded shootout, where CSKA showed more nerve and precision.
With the result, CSKA leads Group A on seven points after four matches, while Sochi sits third with five points. Orenburg sits in second place with six points from three fixtures, and Fakel, based in Voronezh, trails with three points from three games. The standings reflect the tight pace of the group and the importance of every point in this stage of the cup.
Looking ahead, CSKA will meet Fakel in the upcoming round, a match set for October 4 with kick-off at 14:30 Moscow time. Sochi also has a cup date on October 4, facing Orenburg at 15:00 Moscow time, promising another afternoon of high-stakes football in the Russian Cup group phase.
In related news, a former CSKA player recently drew comparisons between the pace of the RPL and the French Championship, underscoring the evolving tempo and competitiveness of Russian football on the continental stage.