MOSCOW, August 31 (R-Sport) – Brazilian forward Ailton rescued a point for Terek Grozny in the Caucasus derby against Anzhi Makhachkala on Saturday, dramatically denying the Dagestanis a first win of the Russian Premier League season with a late penalty.
Anzhi seemed to be taking all three points – ironically after offloading 13 first-team players including Samuel Eto’o and Willian - with Jose Ewerton’s first goal for the club going unanswered for much of the match.
But Ailton slammed home his spot-kick on 85 minutes to claim a share of the spoils on a stormy night in the Chechen capital and leave both teams in the relegation zone on three points.
"For a new team, or a half-new team, this wasn't a bad game for Anzhi," said Anzhi coach Gadzhi Gadzhiev in televised comments. "We didn't have enough of the most simple elements. Had we played more simply, especially in defense, things would have been easier."
Yuri Krasnozhan, the Terek coach, blasted his team's bad luck.
"Getting points was the most important thing today. We created lots of chances but we just couldn't put them away. I'm ashamed for the fans that we couldn't win."
The result leaves both teams with three draws and four defeats. Terek stay 14th and Anzhi in 15th and penultimate place.
Pavel Solomatin, on loan from Dynamo Moscow, thought he had headed Anzhi ahead after 20 minutes but he was correctly flagged offside.
Ailton had a useful run and shot from the edge of the box on 29 minutes, but Mikhail Kerzhakov in the Anzhi goal was equal to it.
Anzhi should have opened the scoring on the resulting counterattack but Terek goalkeeper smothered Solomatin’s shot after a slick passing move.
They did a minute later, however, as Ewerton powered a header down and past Yevgeny Gorodov in the Terek goal from Alan Gatagov’s corner.
Terek nearly leveled it with the last kick of the half as Ailton picked up a backheeled pass and curled agonizingly wide.
Kerzhakov tipped around the post from Ailton as the hosts picked up where they left off in the second half.
Lacina Traore, one of Anzhi’s last lingering stars, blazed over soon after where he should have hit the target from the edge of the box.
With five minutes remaining Odil Ahmedov fouled Ailton in the box and the Brazilian coolly sent Kerzhakov the wrong way to snatch a point.
Friday’s game saw CSKA Moscow come from a goal down for the second successive week to beat Amkar Perm 2-1 on an Ahmed Musa winner.
Later, FC Krasnodar host FC Volga.
