Valery Masalitin, once a renowned striker for domestic football and a longtime figure at CSKA Moscow, shared his thoughts about the army club’s performance after their 2:0 victory in the 20th round of the Russian Premier League. The Samara side, Krylya Sovetov, attributed the win to CSKA’s set-piece prowess and a well-executed game plan that translated into an away triumph.
Masalitin noted that the team did not display their best football in the opening clash, but improvements were evident in the rematch. Changes in personnel were implemented: Zdelar returned to a defensive midfield role, and Oblyakov was given more opportunities in attack. Nevertheless, the tactical adjustments could not fully neutralize CSKA’s physical edge. The visitors used two dead-ball situations to great effect, scoring both goals early in the periods and shaping the tempo of the match. Krylya Sovetov had long been a team that starts games with high intensity, pressing hard in the first quarter-hour and sometimes taking control early on. Yet CSKA’s proactive approach dictated the course of the game and kept the momentum on their side. In the second half, Wings of the Soviets pushed forward to overturn the result, but CSKA struck again from a set piece, leaving Krylya Sovetov with the difficult task of chasing the game. The closing stages remained tense for CSKA, as Masalitin observed that the match’s end carried its familiar edge of urgency and decision.
The season’s return to league action brought more drama, as CSKA’s home advantage did not prevent them from conceding a late equalizer to Orenburg in their first post-winter clash, finishing 1:1 after stoppage time. In Samara, the Wings of the Soviets slipped to a 2:0 defeat against the army team, with Igor Akinfeev required to make a crucial save, as he cleared a last-minute shot with his foot from the penalty spot. The narrative around CSKA Moscow has grown louder in discussions about commercialization in the sport, with Masalitin among those weighing in on the broader implications for the club and its supporters.
In reflecting on these developments, Masalitin’s comments point to a broader picture of how CSKA combines physical presence with precise set-piece execution, turning moments into decisive results. The analysis underscores the importance of tactical flexibility, the impact of player roles in different phases of the game, and the psychological edge that comes with maintaining pressure through the opening and closing stages of a match. The lessons from these encounters are valuable not only to fans but also to teams studying how to manage the rhythm of a league season, where every scoring opportunity and defensive stand can alter the trajectory of a campaign.