Vladimir Ponomarev, a former footballer who played for CSKA Moscow and represented the USSR national team, spoke about the concerns over the army club’s fitness after their 1-1 draw with Rostov in the Russian Cup RPL Road quarter-finals. He shared his assessment with Euro-Football.Ru, outlining the physical struggles that seemed to define the match for the team.
According to Ponomarev, the side appeared to lose the battle of strength as the game wore on. He described the squad as being overwhelmed physically, with the team clearly lagging behind competitors in matters of stamina and endurance. In his view, the second half showed a noticeable decline in the players’ physical condition, which allowed Rostov to press effectively and keep pace as the hours ticked by. The former forward stressed that the team’s surge and sprint capacity had diminished, contributing to an uneven battle on the field and making it harder to sustain a high-intensity approach for the full duration of the match.
He directed his critique toward the coaching staff’s approach to distribution of effort. The defenders, in his assessment, needed to allocate their energy more evenly, ideally spreading force across three segments rather than two. This would ensure that their backing line could maintain stability while keeping stamina in reserve for the most demanding phases of the game. He noted that relying on a two-man support system was insufficient, and the constant forward pressure from the opponent risked draining the team quickly. The consequence of these power constraints, he argued, was a compromised return in the attacking phase and a higher likelihood of conceding moments that deflated momentum. In short, the lack of power affected both the defensive and offensive transitions, leaving the squad vulnerable during critical moments of the match.
The game finished 1-1 after a closely fought 90 minutes. In the eighth minute, a misstep led to an own goal by CSKA player Kirill Nababkin, briefly tilting the balance in Rostov’s favor. Anton Zabolotny answered back with an equalizer twelve minutes before halftime, restoring parity as the teams prepared to exit the tunnel for the second half. The match reached a turning point late in the game when Army defender Moises received a direct red card for a handball offence, an incident that intensified the tension on the field and influenced the late stages of play. The rematch was scheduled to take place in March 2024, offering both sides a chance to reset and attempt to correct the shortcomings exposed in the initial encounter.
Earlier comments from a CSKA veteran echoed a blunt assessment of the team’s performance on the field. The veteran suggested that a dogged, relentless effort is necessary, but that such grit must be accompanied by composure and discipline. The remark hinted at the belief that the squad’s physical intensity cannot substitute for tactical clarity and efficient use of energy across the full 90 minutes. It underscored the need for a balanced approach, where players maintain peak form without compromising control and decision-making under pressure. In the wake of the match, discussions among analysts and fans focused on the interplay between tempo, stamina, and strategic choices, underscoring the importance of fitness and planning in cup ties where every minute matters.