The champion’s advance of “Berkut”

            On December, 11^th at the sports complex “Meshchersky” the team of the “Berkut” sports club won “Nakta-credit” with the score of 2:0.

            For the evening of Thursday there were organized two top matches in the schedule of the Premier League of Nizhny Novgorod and the region on mini-football. “Nakta-credit” versus “Berkut” and Vertex” versus “Bureau K”. But the first match was more attractive on the signboard because the last year’s champion of the Premier League – “Berkut” played it, being concurrently the winner of the summer championship. It was not surprising that so many fans came to the match.

            The game couldn’t disappoint anyone. Both teams are unbeaten and lead the tournament table of the league. And on the floor they try to implement just a real mini-football. But as for “Berkut”, everything is clear – the team for that year has been proving its worth, and, in principle, they are used to keep the championship cups. But “Nakta-credit” this year surprises us with a plus sign. Apparently, Ignatiev, the team coach, works with the guys very productively. All, what we see in the performance of “Nakta-credit” – very bright and interesting show. And most importantly, achieving the result. But that match, as it is called “Diamond cuts diamons”.

            On the part of “Berkut” there was the second goalkeeper Adyasov, and, as it turned out later, he earned the honorable “biscuit”. “Berkut” started as the champion, almost immediately Katalov hit the crossbar, when for some reason nobody wanted to cover up him near the penalty line. After that Bystritsky had a chance, who is always at the epicenter of events in any match. And “Nakte-credit” snarled: twice its quick attacks ended with dangerous blows. Generally, the guys in blue didn’t hesitate to strike from any position - from afar, from sharp corners. Perhaps, it was the coach’s task. And such, as it seemed, harmless blows almost put “Nakta” forward: it was Adyasov who behaved strangely, catching an “easy” ball, and then somehow threw it behind his back, to the gate. However, at the last second he managed with his fingertips to make the ball out of the ribbon, having several unpleasant moments. Further more – “Nakta” hit the crossbar too, when Bystritsky yielded(!) in a power struggle. The second part of the first half “Nakta” attacked more and more interesting: they played on defense, and when “Berkut” made a mistake, they immediately fled to “dissent”. Speed of the “Nakta” players was higher than that of the champions, but they lacked a decisive pass or blow.

            The second time, as it seemed, “Nakta” had to be succeed. But suprisingly “Berkut” scored a goal: pass to Soloviev who showed himself in the best way in the penalty, reception and a powerful blow: 1-0! A second of relaxation was enough for “Nakta” to give the lead in the score to the champion. However, nobody promised them a sweet life, and in the next attack “Nakta” had to equalize the score: but Katalov appeared on the way of the ball, flying into the empty net. Further, “Berkut” tried on the role of “Nakta” in the first half and played clearly on defense with quick attacks throughout the “front”: and it was a real happy hunting ground for Bystritsky, Chegolin and Kubyshkin. Time after time they ran away to the opponent’s gate, Chegolin lacked a little quickness to increase the lead. Kirillov had another clear pass one-to-one, and usually he scores these. But not that evening. “Nakta” attacked dangerously significantly less than in the first half, but had a one hundred percent chance to save the situation. After series of blows the ball almost swept through the ribbon of the “Berkut” gate until it was in the hands of the goalkeeper. Because of powerlessness “Nakta” removed the goalkeeper and released the fifth fielder. But “the fifth on the field” in their performance looked very strange: the players overkept the ball, were last to make a risky stroke. Two or three times they had a luck, and then Bystritsky caught the moment, took the ball and scored into the empty gate, summing up a very interesting and informative match with high quality football.