Russia: Action for Evans Kangwa as Arsenal Tula fall at Rostov
Kasuba Kapambwe | April 25, 2021
Arsenal Tula are all but certain to play in the post-season relegation playoffs after losing away to Rostov 1-0. Evans Kangwa started the match and put in a 63 minutes shift, while Kings Kangwa had to be content with a place on the bench.
Both teams had something to play for in this match. Rostov who sat in tenth position on the league table are trying to give a late push towards their hopes of qualifying for the Europa Conference League qualifiers.
Their visitors, Tula sat in thirteenth with hopes to clinch the twelfth spot and avoid either certain relegation or the relegation playoffs.
Tula started brightly. As early as the 11th minute, our very own Evans Kangwa made a great run from the right before cutting inside into the penalty area and setting up his teammate Vladislav Panteleev only for him to miss the target.
Evans Kangwa takes on the opposition
Rostov then began to dominate with two attempts by Dennis Hadzikadunic, the main threat. A missed header in the 19th minute and a saved effort followed in the 29th minute.
The last chance of the first half fell to Arsenal Tula’s centre back, Giya Grigavala who headed over the bar from a corner.
The game sprang to life right after the restart when Rostov’s Pontus Almqvist was through on goal from the left wing only to be pulled down by Tula defender Tulas Burlak. Initially the referee only gave a foul but after VAR review, Burlak was sent off leaving Tula down to 10 men with forty-minutes to play.
Tula played most of the match in their own half defending and hoping to come away with a valuable point.
Evans Kangwa was rested in the 63rd minute for Russian forward Kirill Panchenko in a like-for-like substitution.
Tula eventually crumbled under pressure in the 71st minute when Almqvist picked up a cleared ball right on the edge of the area. He then cleverly poked the ball away from an oncoming Panteleev before being pulled down for a penalty confirmed by yet another VAR review.
Dmitry Polov stepped up to convert for his sixth league goal and handed Rostov the lead.
When it looked like all hope was gone Tula were given a lifeline. VAR confirmed that Tkachev’s strike on target hit the unintentionally outstretched arm of Obukhov in the penalty area.
Unfortunately, German born Robert Bauer struck poorly and saw his penalty saved by Pesyakov. The last attack fell to Rostov in the 3rd minute of added time when a Kozlov shot from distance only for Shamov to tip it over the bar.
Kings Kangwa was kept on the bench for this match. He should play a major role as Tula look all but certain to play in the playoffs to keep their status in the Russian Premier League. Arsenal Tula stay rooted on 13th position with 23 points.