Spartak Spark Delight As Suwon Samsung Suffer

Spartak Moscow produced an accomplished display to see off Suwon Samsung and qualify for the quarter-finals.

Spartak knew anything other than a victory would see them go out, so they went at the Koreans from the start and they were ahead after just four minutes.

Sviatoslav Kozhedub had already gone close by the time Daniil Grigorev found Aslan Mutaliev and he cut inside before sending in a superb shot that gave the keeper no chance.

Skipper Ilya Golyatov, who scored twice in a narrow defeat by Real Madrid in their opener, went close midway through the first half but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Spartak doubled their lead two minutes before the break when Kozhedub sent over
an inviting right-wing cross for Golyatov who headed his third goal of the competition so far. The goal makes Golyatov the leading scorer during the group stages.

The second half saw Spartak continue to impress and the influential Kozhedub went close with a superb left-foot free-kick from outside the penalty area but the keeper tipped it onto the woodwork.
Just before the hour-mark Spartak did grab a third and it was another excellent finish. Magomedemin Rabadanov’s free-kick was blocked but it fell nicely for Grigorev, who cut onto his left foot and fired past the keeper.

Suwon had hardly been in the match but they were gifted a goal on 67 minutes when Seungwan Ryu’s shot found its way into the net following a mistake by the keeper. Ryu’s effort went straight through keeper Pavel Boriskin’s legs and despite his efforts to chase after it the ball trickled over the line.

Despite pulling one back, Suwon struggled to contain the Russians and the impressive Kozhedub shot into the side netting before Nikolay Genchi sent a curling effort narrowly wide.

Hojun Son did have a decent effort for Suwon with 10 minutes to go but Spartak substitute Yadim Zhikhartsev also had two opportunities to score in the closing stages.

Spartak were full value for their victory but will now come up against impressive Italian outfit Roma in the quarter-finals.