Rostov’s head coach Valery Karpin provided an update on Viktor Melekhin after the winger was involved in a collision with Rubin’s Mirlind Daku during a Russian Cup group-stage match in the Russian Premier League system. The Rostov camp shared the information through their press service, noting the severity of the moment and the impact on the player involved.
Karpin described the incident in clearer terms, saying that Melekhin lost consciousness for a period following a blow to the temple. He stressed that it was challenging to fully understand the sequence of events at the moment, but emphasized that the player regained consciousness and was able to speak shortly after, adding that medical staff would continue to monitor his condition closely throughout the coming hours and days as a precautionary measure.
The contest took place at Ak Bars Arena in Kazan and finished in a dramatic fashion, with Rostov clinching the win in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at the end of normal time. German Ignatov, a Rostov defender, opened the scoring in regulation, while Rubin’s Marat Apshatsev found the equalizer. The decisive moment in the shootout came when Ignatov converted a crucial penalty to seal Rostov’s progress in the cup campaign.
As the group phase progressed, Rostov stood at the forefront of Group B, collecting eight points from their matches. Rubin trailed with four points, placing them toward the lower end of the table in the standings for this stage of the competition. The result not only reinforced Rostov’s position in the group but also kept the pressure on Rubin to secure more points in upcoming fixtures as they vie for a better placement in the group and a potential pathway to later rounds.
The broader narrative around the match included the intense atmosphere surrounding a cup clash that brought together two sides aiming to advance while dealing with the physical demands of a busy season. Rostov’s supporters watched with cautious optimism as their team navigated the late-stage tension, while Rubin players and staff prepared to regroup after a narrow defeat on penalties. The clash underscored the unpredictable nature of cup football, where a single moment can tilt the balance between victory and elimination.
In parallel coverage from Kazan, localized reports noted that a Rubin fan store in the city had been subject to an incident involving theft. The occurrence was reported separately from the match proceedings and did not directly impact the competitive actions on the field, but it formed part of the broader news cycle surrounding the night’s events in Kazan. No further details on that incident were provided in the official match briefings, and the focus remained on the football and the health and performance of the players involved.