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SPARTAK (U-17) — BARCELONA (U-17) — 0:1 (0:1)

Moscow. The stadium of Spartak Academy named after F. Cherenkov. 19.04. 2,100 spectators

Referee: I. Panin (Moscow)

Spartak (Moscow): Mitryushkin, Ntirubuza, Fyedotov, Salnikov, Vinnichenko (k), Kogonia, Shahkeldyan, Likhachev, Salimov, Oslonovsky, Panteleev (Alshansky, 31). 

Barcelona: Suares, Palencia (Riera, 60), Kintilia, Ortega (Rolon, 18, Otero, 40), Ecpolo, Tarin, Ranera (Kolina, 60+2), Khyartas, El-Khaddadi, Engene, Abvelle 

Goal: 0:1 El-Khaddadi (21).

Warnings: Salimov (3), Kogonia (27), Ecpolo (52), Abvelle (57).

Spartak Academy in Sokolniki has never faced such agiotage. The remarkable poster Spartak – Barcelona attracted spectators in anticipation of the great football event, and the match hasn’t disappointed their expectations. Not only more than 2,000 spectators (!) came to see the game of the Moscovites and the Catalans, but many specialists as well. George Yartsev, Yury Gavrilov, Eugene Lovchev, Sergey Shavlo, Sergey Rodionov, Boris Pozdnyakov, Nikolay Pisarev, Igor Shalimov, Eugene Bushmanov, Dmitry Gunko, Vasily Kulkov, Jose Kouseiru and Yury Krasnozhan – this is the incomplete list of famous people, who attended the event. And arrival of Samuel Eto’O, the famous ex-forward of Barcelona, became a pleasant surprise for his Cameroon compatriots, who play for the junior team of the garnet and blues.     

Andrey Pyatnitsky’s guys looked decently against a background of the extremely strong opponent. Exactly this Barcelona slaughtered Borussia — 3:0 and Sporting – 5:1 in the previous matches. Last year exactly this Barcelona, as the saying goes, by showing "single gate" game, won the representative tournament devoted to the 75th anniversary of Donetsk-based Shakhter. Two years ago exactly this Barcelona outplayed Spartak at the tournament in Spain – 0:6. It should be noted that the Catalans play the same football and according to the same scheme, as their adult super team. It is composed of its own Pike, Abidali, Khavi and Inest – but just junior ones. And they count on superior technique, flawless fluid passing and total control of the ball.         

Unfortunately, the match outcome was affected by an egregious blunder of our guard, who started to bypass the opponent in his own penalty box. Naturally, Barcelona didn’t forgive us such "liberty" and punished with the goal. But the red and whites didn’t allow the guests to achieve any greater success. Indeed, the opponent possessed the ball more often, but the Moscovites defended in an orderly manner and selflessly. Moreover, at the beginning of the second half the Spartak club members could have level the match. Alexander Kogonia (presumably, the best player in the read and whites’ team) performed the marvelous solo effort and finalized it with the firm shot from the penalty box radius – the ball touched the bar from Barcelona goalkeeper’s hands.     

In brief, our team hasn’t disappointed at all, but perhaps played its best game at the tournament. And though the victory has gone to Barcelona, undoubtedly, the Spartak players have gained invaluable experiences from the game with the opponent of such level in the nearly filled stadium. And, certainly, we’d like to express great thanks to Spartak fans, who strongly supported our 16-year old guys in that evening. 

Other results

Atalanta (Italy) — Borussia M (Germany) — 1:1
Goals: Barlokko - Mikkels (penalty).

Sochaux (France) — Sporting (Portugal) — 0:2
Goals: Flaviu Silva, Jose Poshtiga.

Tournament tabling after 3 rounds:

Barcelona — 9 points, Atalanta — 7, Sporting — 4, Sochaux — 3, Spartak — 1, Borussia М — 1.