Kuban Krasnodar

    Kuban Krasnodar

    SOCCER

      Kuban out despite draw

      Kuban Krasnodar earned a creditable 1-1 draw from their final Europa League group stage assignment in Valencia but it was not enough to spare them elimination. • Highlights: Valencia 1-1 Kuban (US, Caribbean) Kuban needed to win against the already-qualified Spaniards while also making up three goals on Swansea to stay alive in the competition, and the Swans gave the Russian side every opportunity by losing meekly at bottom side St Gallen in the night's other match. However, Kuban failed to get the get the job done at the Mestalla, with Lorenzo Melgarejo's late equaliser that cancelled out Paco Alcacer's opener all they had to show for their efforts. Valencia finish top of Group A on 13 points, five clear of Swansea who join them in the last 32. Valencia were the first to threaten when Michel hit the post from close range in the 21st minute, while moments later Michel's inswinging corner was headed over by Helder Postiga. Neither side offered much as an attacking force in the rest of the half and almost an hour had gone when another chance came along, Kuban's Djibril Cisse bringing a smart stop from Diego Alves. The breakthrough arrived on 67 minutes when Ever Banega played in Alcacer who tucked the ball home from six yards to put Valencia on course for their fifth win in five games since their matchday one humiliation at home to Swansea. But Kuban ensured Valencia would drop points for only second time in the group when they levelled six minutes from the end when Gonzalo Bueno crossed and Melgarejo headed high into the net. There was still time for a little late drama when Valencia's Victor Ruiz was sent off for a professional foul on Cisse in the final minute, but Kuban were unable to capitalise.
      • 9Y
      • PA Sport

      Kuban Krasnodar

      SOCCER

        Krasnodar hammer sorry St Gallen

        Kuban Krasnodar claimed their first win in Europa League Group A in style as they swept aside St Gallen 4-0.Lorenzo Melgarejo was on target twice, opening the scoring in the third minute and getting the third 18 minutes from time.Vladislav Ignatiev netted the second in the 55th minute and Charles Kabore rounded off the rout at the death as Kuban moved above their opponents into third place in the pool on five points.The comprehensive win was no less than they deserved for a display of total domination and indeed the scoreline flattered St Gallen.The hosts got off to a flying start as Melgarejo volleyed Anton Sosnin's ball in from the right low into the net.Aleksei Kozlov forced a parry from St Gallen goalkeeper Daniel Lopar with a shot from the centre of the area, while at the other end Aleksandr Belenov had to be alert to deny Mario Mutsch.That was a rare moment of promise from the Swiss side, though.The Russians were well on top and Melgarejo almost got a second only to head wide from close range from Sosnin's free-kick.Djibril Cisse fired against a post from outside the area and Ignatiev also hit the frame of the goal with an effort from much closer in.Kuban were desperately unlucky not to be more than one goal ahead at half-time, but they did not have to wait long into the second half to double their lead.A minute after Ivelin Popov had a shot parried by Lopar he laid on the pass which Ignatiev slid home from the left of the six-yard box.Melgarejo made it three with his second of the match in the 72nd minute with another close-range finish, this time pounding on Igor Armas' knock-down.Already home and dry, the hosts nevertheless kept on pressing and Cisse headed over when well-placed.But Kabore was on target from another Armas head down, firing a low shot into the right corner in injury time to round off a dominant display.
        • 9Y

        Kuban Krasnodar

        SOCCER

          Swans denied at the end again

          #INSERT type:image caption:Wilfried Bony is mobbed by teammates after opening the scoring for Swansea. END# Swansea were again pegged back by a late Kuban Krasnodar goal as Ibrahima Balde's stoppage time equaliser denied them a win in Russia. Highlights: Kuban 1-1 Swansea (US and Caribbean only) Wilfried Bony had put the Swans ahead in the ninth minute and they looked set to move to the brink of a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League when their hosts had defender Xandao sent off with 15 minutes remaining.But, as had happened when Djibril Cisse struck a stoppage time penalty in Swansea two weeks ago, they could not claim all three points as Balde just beat Michel Vorm to a lofted pass and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper to make the final score 1-1.Swansea have now won just two of their last nine in all competitions, but they should have left the Kuban Stadium with three points after dominating the first half.Bony could have given Swansea the lead in the opening seconds, directing a powerful header towards the near post, only for Aleksandr Belenov in the Kuban goal to make a sharp save.But there was no repreive for the hosts when excellent link-up play between Alejandro Pozuelo and Roland Lamah, who impressed in only his third Swansea start, teed up Bony.Lamah surged into the area and, when Pozuelo could not control, Bony took over to fire convincingly beyond Belenov.Lamah and Nathan Dyer had chances to extend the lead, with the former dragging wide when played in by Jonathan de Guzman, and Belenov saving from the latter.The failure to extend the lead almost proved costly as Djibril Cisse had a goal ruled out for offside, and failed to control at close quarters, but Kuban's charge was dented when Xandao saw red for a second yellow card.However, Ivelin Popov's ball into the area saw Balde nip in ahead of Vorm to earn the hosts a share of the spoils and keep Swansea waiting to secure their spot in the last 32.Swansea's first-half performance deserved so much more, but they paid the price for a poor second half display, while Laudrup's decision to substitute three of his best players on the night - Bony, Lamah and Dyer - backfired.Swansea could have led inside 90 seconds after Xandao had cynically cut out a lofted through-ball with his hand, earning him a booking.De Guzman took the free-kick and picked out Bony, but the Ivorian's solid header was well saved by Belenov.Kuban spurned a fine chance just moments later as Popov's ball fed Cisse, only for Vorm to keep out his low shot despite slipping as the striker advanced on goal.Bony made no such mistake with his ninth-minute finish, keeping his calm to put the Welsh club in front.Lamah should have doubled their advantage in the 20th minute. De Guzman sprung the offside trap with a lovely weighted ball, but the Belgian dragged across the face of goal with his left-footed effort.Arsen Khubulov and Xandao worked Vorm as the hosts sought a response but the Swans looked very dangerous and Belenov was forced into another fine save as Bony and Pozuelo helped tee up Dyer, with the keeper tipping the winger's curling shot round the post.However, the visitors were given a reminder of the slender nature of their lead when Khubulov found Popov in plenty of space on the edge of the box - but the Bulgarian rushed his shot and blazed well over.Swansea made an assured start to the second half, dominating possession and building pressure in the Kuban half - but their good work was almost undone in the 53rd minute.Ben Davies was robbed of the ball and when it was put into the box it found Cisse on the edge of the six-yard box, but the striker could not control and the chance was gone.The Frenchman did find the net a few minutes later - but he was rightly flagged for offside.For the first time Swansea began to look unsettled - not helped by the removal of the trio of Bony, Lamah and Dyer - giving the ball away needlessly and inviting Kuban on to them.Cisse was continuing to be a thorn in the side of the visitors but he again failed to convert after nipping past Davies and Wayne Routledge.The Kuban recovery looked to have been halted when they were reduced to 10 men after Xandao was guilty of a woeful tackle on substitute Alvaro Vazquez.But Swansea were to again be denied by the Russian side as Balde struck with two of the four added minutes gone.
          • 9Y

          Kuban Krasnodar

          SOCCER

            Swans stalled by Cisse spot-kick

            #INSERT type:video subtype:lead END# Swansea's Europa League aspirations suffered a dent as Djibril Cisse's stoppage-time penalty saw Kuban Krasnodar deny them victory at the Liberty Stadium. • Highlights: Swansea City 1-1 Kuban Krasnodar (US and Caribbean only) Michu looked to have put the home side on course for a third straight Group A win when he grabbed his sixth goal of the season, and fourth of this European campaign, by sliding the ball beyond Aleksandr Belenov in the 68th minute.But the visitors snatched a 1-1 draw and a valuable point when Swans keeper Gerhard Tremmel brought down substitute Ibrahima Balde, and former Liverpool forward Cisse calmly scored from the spot.The result means Swansea remain top of Group A and move on to seven points, but this was a distinctly unimpressive display from the Welsh club against a limited opponent with just one win from their previous nine games.Valencia's romp to a comprehensive victory over St Gallen in tonight's other group fixture moves the Spanish team onto six points, and Swansea have plenty of work to do to reach the last 32.There had been few bright points during a tepid first half, but the hosts would have led had Jonjo Shelvey kept his composure.Michu's first-time pass found the midfielder in acres of space, but his rushed shot was nowhere near finding the target.Wilfried Bony volleyed over and Shelvey prodded wide from rare examples of incisive Swansea play, while at the other end Tremmel shovelled Maksim Zhavnerchik's drive wide and Dwight Tiendalli was fortunate to escape a red card after hauling down Lorenzo Melgarejo.The hosts finally found some control after the break, with Michu making another telling intervention by racing onto a smart Alejandro Pozuelo pass to beat Belenov as he raced from his goal.But they were pegged back in injury time after Tremmel brought down Balde having delaying his decision to come out to meet the striker, and Cisse made no mistake.Swansea knew a win here would give them one foot in the knockout stages, but there was little sign of any urgency during a stuttering display.Such was Swansea's lack of fluency, it took them 19 minutes to test Belenov, and then it was a tame effort from Nathan Dyer after a ricochet had helped the winger past two defenders.A clearer chance followed seconds later as Bony and Michu combined to pick out Shelvey unmarked, but the midfielder snatched wildly at his shot which flew hopelessly wide.Swansea were also experiencing a few scares of their own at the other end.Chico Flores managed to steer a Arsen Khubulov pass over his own bar, just about, after a simple lofted ball from Charlos Kabore had found the hosts at sixes and sevens.Tiendalli then had a lucky escape as, having realised his header back to Tremmel was short of power, pulled down Melgarejo, with the fact the incident occurred in a wide channel possibly saving the Dutchman from dismissal.Another hopeful Kabore punt forward soon found the code to breach Swansea's defensive security again on the half-hour, but Popov dallied and then produced a clear dive under pressure from Neil Taylor as the chance was wasted.Swansea simply had to improve after the break, but, aside from a rasping Shelvey effort which struck Igor Armas straight in the face when appearing to be bound for the top corner, the visitors were not unduly troubled.However, as the half wore on Swansea gradually began to take a grip on proceedings, and Michu got the opener.The Spain international and Pozuelo exchanged passes for the former to guide the ball home after racing into the box.But Swansea could not kill the game and Shelvey's wayward pass allowed Kuban to launch their critical last-gasp attack.
            • 9Y
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