The Russian Cup final delivered a moment of high drama as the referee's decision to overturn a red card via VAR became a major talking point. The match, part of the Fonbet Russian Cup's Regions Path, saw Moscow rivals Spartak and CSKA clash at the Lukoil Arena in Moscow.
With Spartak holding a 1-0 lead thanks to an early goal from midfielder Ruslan Litvinov in the 10th minute, the tension was palpable. The game's narrative shifted decisively in the 68th minute when head referee Kirill Levnikov from Saint Petersburg initially showed a red card to CSKA midfielder Ivan Oblyakov.
However, following a consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, Levnikov reversed his initial decision. The red card was rescinded, allowing Oblyakov to remain on the pitch for the remainder of the crucial final. This intervention kept CSKA at full strength as they sought to equalize.
The path to this final was challenging for both teams. Spartak advanced after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Zenit, winning 7-6 after the match ended 0-0. CSKA, meanwhile, secured their spot by defeating Krylya Sovetov with a convincing 5-2 scoreline.
This final is being contested under the Regions Path of the tournament. In the parallel RPL Path final, Dynamo Moscow and Krasnodar are facing off, with their first leg having concluded in a 0-0 stalemate.
CSKA enters this match as the defending champions of the Russian Cup. They claimed the trophy in the previous edition by defeating Rostov in a final that also ended 0-0 after regular time, with CSKA winning the subsequent penalty shootout 4-3.
The match continues with Spartak maintaining their narrow advantage, but the overturned red card ensures CSKA can push forward with their full complement of players in search of an equalizer.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.