Orenburg Wins One, Draws One in Balkan Friendlies

Orenburg continues to prepare for the resumption of the season. The task is crystal clear – to gain such form and build chemistry that will allow them to retain their place in the Russian Premier League (RPL). The Gazoviki, who have been very active in the media space lately (with a new signing, filming, and the announcement of some new entertainment), played two matches in one day. Here’s how it went.

Mornar

The first opponent was Mornar from Montenegro, who are second in their league. For the first half, Orenburg«s head coach Ildar Akhmetzyanov chose the following lineup.

In goal – Yevgeny Zamerets. In defense – Stanislav Poroykov, Alexei Tataev and Danila Khotulev. In midfield – Omar Minatullaev, Yevgeny Bolotov, Irakli Kvekveskiri, Pavel Gorelov, Dmitry Rybchinsky and Daniil Antsiperov, in attack – Gedeon Guzina.

There were no goals in the first half – a classic friendly match. But there was a substitution – Ivan Ivashchenko came on for Alexei Tataev. Note that the referees in this sparring were staff from both teams: for example, Orenburg«s administrator Andrei Teplyakov.

At the start of the second half, there was only one substitution (Maxim Savelyev replaced Gedeon Guzina), but after an hour of play, the lineup changed considerably. Andrei Khodanovich moved into goal, and Emil Tsenov, Danila Vedernikov, newcomer Ruslan Kul, Du Queiroz, Tigran Avanesyan and Dmitry Cherkasov came on.

On the 83rd minute, the only goal was scored, which became the winner. A cross from Danila Vedernikov from the left flank reached Pavel Gorelov, who from an unlikely position, half-volleyed with his left foot to drive the ball into the net – 1:0.

Note that Gorelov also scored in the first friendly against Surkhan (the second game with Borac was postponed due to heavy rain, a closed intra-squad match was held) – the guy clearly deserves a chance in the RPL. That«s all – Orenburg»s victory with a minimal score.

Borac

In the second match, the opponent was the leader of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian championship – Borac from the city of Banja Luka. And this team (by the way, it was they who refused to play in the rain a week ago) has good footballers, for example, experienced Miloš Jojić, who once played for Borussia Dortmund. This time, Orenburg«s lineup was as follows.

In goal – Bogdan Ovsyannikov. In defense – Fahd Mufi, John Palacios, Emil Tsenov and Danila Vedernikov. In midfield – Tigran Avanesyan, Ruslan Kul, Emircan Gürlük, Damian Puebla and Jordi Thompson, in attack – Alexandre Jesus.

The match started quite fiercely: by the 12th minute, yellow cards had been shown to John Palacios and Damian Puebla. The Bosnians created at least three chances – all from their right flank and crosses into the penalty area. For Orenburg, Jordi Thompson and Damian Puebla combined well – the latter could have opened the scoring with a shot, but the opponents« goalkeeper Mladen Jurkaš was alert and dealt with the tricky shot.

On the 32nd minute, Borac«s players opened the scoring – it was Damir Hrelja, who struck with his left foot. But by the 39th minute, the scoreboard showed equality: Jordi Thompson received the ball after a rebound in the penalty area, and carefully curled it into the corner with his left foot – 1:1.

At the very start of the second half, Orenburg went ahead: Alexandre Jesus latched onto the ball after a throw-in, rolled it to Ruslan Kul, who passed to the flank to Danila Vedernikov, and he made his second assist of the day – crossed to the far edge of the penalty area, where the Bosnians could not prevent Damian Puebla from heading accurately, despite the Argentine not being a tall striker – 2:1. As it turned out, Ildar Akhmetzyanov asks him to run into this zone.

After an hour of play, Orenburg«s lineup changed again: Andrei Khodanovich, Dmitry Cherkasov, Ivan Ivashchenko, Alexis Cantero, Du Queiroz, Danila Khotulev, Alexei Tataev, Dmitry Rybchinsky, Yevgeny Bolotov, Maxim Savelyev and 17-year-old Vladislav Galkin, who has just joined Orenburg-2 but is currently at the training camp with the main team, came on.

In this match, victory was not achieved: on the 80th minute, the final score was set by Borac«s central midfielder Dino Skorup – 2:2. And this was again an excellent left-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

Ahead for Orenburg are 6 friendly matches: on February 6, in the same format, the opponents will be Tula«s Arsenal and Bunyodkor from Uzbekistan, on February 13 – Armenian Alashkert and Pari Nizhny Novgorod, on February 20 – Rodina and Rubin.

And a reminder about transfers: (aside from the failed trial of Renat Golysin from KAMAZ): as reported by 56.RU, the team has been strengthened by Alexis Cantero, John Palacios and Damian Puebla, Ruslan Kul (plus on trial – Yevgeny Zamerets from KAMAZ, as well as Tigran Avanesyan from the same Tula Arsenal, Roman Eremenko did not make it to Turkey).

Those who left – Georgy Zotov, Anri Chichinadze, Atsamaz Revazov, Ivan Ignatyev, Vladislav Kamilov, Timofey Martynov, Vladislav Davydov, Vyacheslav Korobov, Daniil Antsiperov (the last three – from the «double») plus those with the second team preparing for the season, on whom Ildar Akhmetzyanov does not count – Nikolai Sysuev, Nikolai Koserik and Stepan Oganesyan.