16/01/2010 - Commonwealth Cup has started on Saturday in Moscow. Latvian champions Lieajas Metalurgs is playing in the tournament for the second time in their history.
First appearance was 4 years ago. First opponents for Rudiger Abramczik’s team was Russian title holder Rubin Kazan. Kazan’s team came to Moscow without most of their first team players, but it is their problem. Metalurgs played with all their leaders and got the first victory of the competition with Artjom Kuznecov scoring the only goal.
It was the first game of the tournament. Just before the kick-off opening ceremony took place with vice-president of Russian Football Union Nikita Symonan making a speech in front of traditionally empty stands of Olimpiskiy.
Liepaja opened the scoring in the first half with a powerful strike of Metalurgs’ new comer Artjom Kuznecov after a corner kick. It is already a third goal of the player this year for Liepaja’s team.
In the second half both teams had chances to score. Rubin showed fast football which was not the case against experienced Latvian side, which was playing really well defensively. At the same time counterattacks of Latvian champions were dangerous and Kazan’s keeper Cheresmin had to show his best performance not to concede a second goal. But at the end one goal was enough for Latvian side to complete their first victory at the tournament.
In the second game of the same group Belarusian team Dnepr overplayed Dordoi-Dinamo – 3:1.
Rubin – Metalurg - 0:1 (0:1)
Metalurg: Šteinborgs, Tamošauskas, Jemelin, Kļava, Alekseev (Mežs, 90), Kalns (Kalniņš, 86), Kirhner (Zirnis, 12), Rafaļskis, Rakel, Grebis (Kameš, 61)
Goal: 0:1 Kuznecov (28).