Lokomotiv, Spartak, Krylya Sovetov and Luch Energia get knocked out
of Russia Cup.
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Russia Cup Round of 32 was fraught with surprises as four
Premier Liga teams suffered defeats from First Division opponents and
gave up the fight for Russia Cup.
The previous play winners Lokomotiv suffered a narrow extra-time defeat
from Ural that deprived them of the chance to win two consecutive titles.
Ural will face Kuban in Russia Cup Round of 16 as the latter beat Metallurg-Kuzbass
narrowly 2:1.
Another big power Spartak lost to Terek in a shootout. The score was level
after the regulate time 1:1 and the teams failed to score in extra-time.
A 4:3 victory in a shootout took Terek to the next round where they will
play Amkar.
Amkar were one of the few teams to prove Premier Liga teams played a different
game than they did in the First Division as they blasted Rotor 4:1.
Krylya Sovetov now figthing for the leading position in Premier Liga were
defeated 0:1 by Kamaz now fighting for promotion to Premier Liga. Kamaz
are to face FC Moskva in Round of 16.
FC Moskva came across serious problems in their clash against Nosta as
the score was tied after regulate-time 1:1. The extra-time failed to determine
the winner and it was only in a shooutout that FC Moskva secured their
spot in the next round as they outscored the opponents 4:2.
Salyut Energia and Tom also needed a shootout to decide who was to go
further. The teams did not score a single goal in the regulare time, neither
did they in extra-time. Tom were a bit better in the shooutout as they
outscored their opponents 3:2.
Rostov will be Tom's next round rival as they blasted SKA 3:0.
Dinamo Moscow handed Avangard a 3:0 defeat to advance to the next round
in which they will play Zenit. Zenit crushed Dinamo Bryansk 4:1 and will
have to fight hard to go past Dinamo to the eightfinals.
Luch Energia gave an unpleasant surprise to their supporters as they lost
narrowly to Metallurg Krasnoyarsk 0:1. Metallurg are sure to have hard
times in the next round as they will meet Saturn. Saturn in their turn
outdid SKA-Energia 2:1 on their way to Round of 16.
Elsewhere, Khimki beat Torpedo 2:1 to meet CSKA in the next round. CSKA
left behind Baltika as they handed them a 1:0 defeat.
Rubin and Spartak Nalchik will fight for a spot in Round of 16 as they
outdid Lukhovitsy and Shinnik respecively with the same score 2:1 though
the team from Nalchik needed an extra-time to clinch a spot in the next
round.
