SUCCESSFUL DEBUT OF THE FUTSAL CLUB “BERKUT” IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

REFERENCE:

Sports Club futsal club (FC) “Berkut”:

• the sports club founder: the Association of guard and legal companies “Berkut” (Nizhny Novgorod).

• established in 2006.

• the only team of Nizhny Novgorod in the First Futsal League of Russia.

• Russia's first futsal club which represents private security institutions in the national championship.

• the vice-champion of the Premier League of Nizhny Novgorod region championship, season 2012/2013.

•  debutant in futsal, season 2013/2014 in the First League of the National Futsal championship.

The team coach - Prosvirnov Alexander Ivanovich – is one of the founders of the Russian futsal, the striker of the legendary team of Nizhny Novgorod “Krona”, a player of the USSR futsal team.

The team manager – Gordeev Vladislav Valentinovich.

Making it to the First League of the National Futsal Championship meant for FC “Berkut” above all willingness to confront the famous rivals and overcoming the “novice syndrome” both from the future rivals and on the part of the team.

From the first round the games calendar of the First League Championship set a very difficult task for FC “Berkut” - the upcoming meetings on December 4 and 5 with the team “Transgaz Samara”, vice-champion of the First League, season 2012 – 2013.

Therefore, the preparation for the matches was the most serious. In particular, the invitation of the new players to join the team – the goalkeeper Maxim Rodionov and the fielders Sergei Kolesnikov, Dmitry Navalnev and Roman Domahin became undoubted success of FC “Berkut” management. Looking ahead, we note that it was Roman Domahin who managed to bring the optimistic outcome of both the first and the second matches. But first things first.

The start of the first match was not quite easy for FC “Berkut”. The prematch nervousness of our players and some confusion in the game in the first minutes were noticeable. Too many faults in the individual play, losing the ball, cross-passes and plays back through the goalie. The rivals were abundant in diagonal and longitudinal passes, speed and attack. This laid the ground for the first goal in the net of FC “Berkut”. But the “quick goal syndrome” which probably the players of “Transgaz Samara” hoped for did not work.

Moreover, after the first missed goal everything fell into place in FC “Berkut” team: the game became more meaningful, organized, dense and tough. Soon a powerful blow by Dmitry Navalnev reached its goal and then Dmitry Shishulin scored - 2:1.

However, the transition to a more dense and tough style of play of FC “Berkut” had the opposite effect. By the number of the cards our club was leading in both the first and the second matches. This ultimately resulted in the removal of Alexei Chegolin. During one of the attacks on the rival goalpost with a “fewer number” “Berkut” players were nailed on a counterattack that ended with another goal in their net (2:2). The intrigue of the match that came from the alternative “full staff after 2 minutes or after a goal” made a not very cheery verdict for “Berkut”: the team continued the game en bloc after a missed goal (2-3).

Next, the situation of FC “Berkut” developed very dramatically. Within two minutes another goal was missed (4:2). It seemed that the fate of the match was determined as five minutes before the end of the game it was impossible to play two goals back from such an experienced rival.

But “Berkut” showed its character - the game became more assertive, organized and precise. In addition, the sixth player joined the game - his fans actively supported the onset of our team. In addition, the players of “Transgas Samara” had already believed in the victory. And as it turned out to no avail.

The attack masterfully conducted by FC “Berkut” ended with a goal. Roman Domahin completed the collective teamwork with the pass by Dmitry Navalnev (4:3).

And then came the “moment of truth”. A real chance to bring the game in a draw turned up. Here the wisdom, experience and the proper consideration of our coach Alexander Ivanovich Prosvirnov were demonstrated. He decided to withdraw the goalie and include in the fifth game fielder. And it worked! At the last minute of the match Domahin Roman having received a skillful pass from Alexander Kubishkin put an optimistic period in the tense duel (4:4).

In the second match between the rivals on December 5 the story developed in an even more dramatic way. By the results of the first match, the players of “Transgaz Samara” realized that FC “Berkut” though being a novice, is a novice with a strong character and ambitions. It was not difficult to assume that they bet on the “quick goal syndrome” which actually did not happen. From the first seconds of the match FC “Berkut” was pinned to its goalpost, the rival strongly suppressed its attempts to counterattack. This gave the result - over two minutes two (!) goals were scored to FC “Berkut” (0:2). It seemed the tactics of the rival gave the result. But nothing of the kind. FC “Berkut” like in the first match showed its character and answered with three goals. Three Dmitrys stood out – Navalnev, Dmitriev and Shishulin (3:2).

But, unfortunately, the match went almost exactly by the scenario of the previous one. Leading in the score, FC “Berkut” noticeably relaxed for what they were immediately punished by the rival who never intended to give the initiative and did not forgive such mistakes. As a result two (!) goals in turn were scored to FC “Berkut” over 5 - 7 minutes and by the middle of the second half the score was 3:4. Then the teams exchanged goals (Maksim Kirillov stood out in our team) but by the end of the match the situation was tough, exactly repeating the intrigue of the previous match (4:5). Would we lose?

And that was something FC “Berkut” and its fans (whose numbers increased compared with the first match) disagreed with. The students of Lyceum # 8 and Sports School “Meschera” demonstrated special activity with which the Association of guard and legal companies “Berkut” developed longstanding patronage relations. They by no means could agree with their favorite team losing! So “Berkut” played the end of the match in seven: five players on the field and two in the sideways - adult fans and students of the Lyceum.

In such a composition “Berkut” could not possibly lose! And that was what happened - Roman Domahin sent the ball into the net of “Transgaz Samara” during the last minutes of the game (5:5).

Briefly summarizing the two matches of  FC “Berkut” in the first round of the First League of the National Futsal Championship we should note a consistently good attacking play. The line of attack differed in efficiency and stability of the game which yet cannot be said about the effectiveness of the line of protection. So that the “score by the game”. The debut of “Berkut” in the first round of the First League of the National Futsal Championship was quite successful.