Acting CSKA head coach Dmitry Igdisamov shared his thoughts after his team’s 2-1 win over Pari Nizhny Novgorod in the 29th round of the Russian Premier League.
Pari NN took the lead through a goal from Lesovoy in first-half stoppage time, but CSKA mounted a dramatic comeback in the final minutes. Danila Kozlov equalized in the 88th minute, and two minutes later, 18-year-old Imran Firov scored the winner.
“They [Pari NN] were united in their goal to stay in the Premier League. You could see the players wanted to win. We managed to turn the game around thanks to the substitutes, who brought fresh energy. They beat their opponents one-on-one on the flanks and moved the ball forward. Today, youthful excitement, spirit, belief, and the desire to win allowed us to turn the game around,” Igdisamov said, as quoted on the club’s official website.
Imran Firov became the youngest player in RPL history to both score and provide an assist on his debut. He set up Kozlov’s equalizer and then bagged the match-winner.
CSKA sit fifth in the Russian league table with 48 points from 29 matches. Pari NN are 15th, in the direct relegation zone, three points away from the promotion/relegation play-off spot.