Held off the blow: Smolov led the "Brock Boys" to the fourth round of the Russian Cup

Fedor Smolov, who was prosecuted for a fight at Coffeemania, scored the winning goal for the Brock Boys on September 11 and led the media team to the fourth round of the Russian Football Cup, leaving behind Leon Saturn (2-0). Another non—professional club, Amkal, dealt with Belgorod Salyut (2:1), bringing Alexander Medvedev, the 70—year-old former CEO of Zenit St. Petersburg, onto the field. Read more about the performance of each team in the Izvestia article.

For the sake of the heads

The Brock Boys beat Saturn 2-0 on the road in the third round match of the FONBET Regional Cup. The author of the first goal was Fedor Smolov, who scored in the 63rd minute. The 35-year-old scored the 158th goal of his career and equaled Andrei Arshavin in this indicator. The achievement is all the more valuable because just on the eve of the match it became known about the criminal case that was opened against the striker under the article on intentional injury to health: in the summer, the football player became involved in a fight in the same capital's "Coffee Mania", where Pavel Mamaev and Alexander Kokorin had already fought a few years ago. Then both players of the Russian national team received real prison sentences.

— Was it important to match Arshavin in goals? Honestly, it's important. I won't hide the fact that this whole thing with the "Brooks" is for the sake of goals. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity. My next goal? I've only caught up with Arshavin so far, we need to move forward. I would like to score another goal.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: is Fyodor Smolov facing a real prison sentence

The strange story of the football player's fight has been continued

In the 90+6th minute, the advantage of the guests was increased by 39-year-old Ari, for whom this match was his debut for the "Brock Boys". The ex-football player of Krasnodar and Spartak started the game in the reserves and came on as a substitute in the 55th minute. It should be recalled that the Brazilian recently left the post of Torpedo sports director.

In the fourth round of the "Path of the Regions" of the Russian Cup, the "Brock Boys" will play against the club from Borisoglebsk "Kristall-MEZT". Smolov himself admitted that he would be left without a professional team until the winter, so for now "we need to continue playing for the Browns in the Cup." Fedor admitted that he feels like he belongs in the team and has a desire to continue.

Another record

Another club of the Amkal media league won a strong—willed victory over Belgorod Salyut at home - 2:1. The score was opened by midfielder Nikolai Boyarkin in the 31st minute. In the 44th minute, the hosts won back thanks to David Papikyan's goal, and Leon Sabua's goal in the 75th minute brought victory to Amkal. It should be noted that the guests finished the game with ten — Alexander Krikunenko received a red card in the 85th minute. Amkal has reached the fourth round of the Path of the Regions of the Russian Cup, where it will play against Veles Moscow.

The most significant event of the game with Salyut was the appearance on the field of 70-year-old Alexander Medvedev, who became the oldest football player in the history of Russia.

Amkal comes up with performances for each match: Kvant was beaten (3:1) by streamers and artists, and ex-basketball player Pavel Podkolzin (226 cm tall) set a world record in a game with Kaluga (1:0). At the meeting with Salyut, another star was invited to the team, 70-year-old Medvedev. The functionary was chairman of the Zenit management Board for six years, but Konstantin Zyryanov took his place at the end of August.

Alexander Ivanovich charged his teammates before the starting whistle. It felt like a fighting spirit. As a result, he spent 22 minutes on the field, after which he was replaced. During this time, Medvedev did not show any effective actions, but he was remembered for several violations of the rules. The functionary acted as an attacker.

Sports weekend with Izvestia

The friendly match of the Russian national team, the start of the season in the KHL and other events

Medvedev was invited to the match with Kaluga in August, and it was agreed that if Zenit won the weekend before the Russian Cup, he would play for Amkal. But the blue-white-blues then drew with Spartak (2:2).

With Medvedev, Amkal broke the record for the oldest player in Russian history. Back in 2005, he was appointed by Vladimir Tumaev (58 years, 4 months, 15 days) for SOYUZ-Gazprom: he was the CEO of the club, sometimes he came on as a substitute — nine matches in the Cup. But in the same year, the president of the RFU Vyacheslav Koloskov forbade him to play: "We have a professional league."

Medvedev was born in 1955: Pele was only 15 years old that year, and Real Madrid had yet to win a single Champions League.

— I felt great. The field is worse than yesterday, but it's the same for everyone. Joy after a goal? The Championship and the Cup are different competitions. The Amkal team could have claimed me because I'm a free agent. No regulations have been violated. Do you want to play another game? Let's wait for this one to end. Which is more exciting: to cheer for Zenit or for Amkal? Every match is exciting," the record holder told reporters.