1armedboxer

September, 2005

Saturday 17th
Russian Premier Division

Rubin 3 (Roni pen 41, 90, Bogatikov 52)
Sokol Saratov 0 Lutsenko s/o 81)

The summer break did nothing to help Sokol who, missing Beslan Adjindjal looked toothless in midfield. It took over an hour for a Saratov player to put in a meaningful challenge, which happened to be a body-check, for which Eugeny Lutsenko was sent off.

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Wednesday 21st
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 2 (Oreschuk 34, Konovalov 56)
Shinnik 2 (Kushev pen 8, Spahic 39)

A memorable performance from the home side, coming from behind twice to earn a valuable point against the league leaders. Andrey Konovalov was inspired in midfield and Mikhail Razhazan must be hoping that he reconsiders his decision to retire at the end of the season.

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Saturday 24th
Russian Premier Division

CSKA Moscow 4 (Kirichenko pen 9, 42, Semak 11, Ignashevich pen 21)
Sokol Saratov 3 (Slahor 27, 34, Lakhiyalov 81)

What a game! But for some rash tackling in their own penalty area Sokol may well have taken something from this game. Jan Slahor led the line well and the midfield performed miracles against superior opposition but early defensive frailties had already given the game to CSKA. An awful miss at the end from Shamil Lakhiyalov when clean through denied Saratov late glory.

1armedboxer

October, 2005

Saturday 1st
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 0
Spartak Moscow 1 (Demenko 70)

Sokol looked like the only team in the game for over an hour but folded in the final 20 minutes and never looked likely to recover from Demenko’s opener.

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Saturday 15th
Russian Premier Division

Kuban 1 (Kornaukhov 45)
Sokol Saratov 2 (Slahor 6, 42)

A magnificent performance from the re-emerging Alexey Zlydnev and a lucky cross-shot from Jan Slahor gave Sokol the points away at Kuban. With thirty points on the board and only 3 games left of the league season, Saratov’s safety is assured.Having won a point and much pride from the top three sides in their previous three games the away side recovered brilliantly to win.

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Tuesday 18th
Russian Cup 6th Round 1st Leg

Pskov 1 (Morozov pen 68; Ahmetzyanov s/o 56)
Sokol Saratov 5 (Oreschuk 1, Slahor 21, 36, 73, Khlestov 45)

Helped substantially by a Roman Oreschuk opener just 15 seconds into the match, Sokol tore the First Division side apart with some smooth football. Beslan Adjindjal, almost certainly Lazio-bound in the close season, was instrumental in everything the visitors did.

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Saturday 22nd
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 0
Zenith Petersburg 1 (Spivak 15)

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Sunday 23rd

Sokol Saratov manager Mikhail Razhazan today confirmed that fans’ favourite Beslan Adjindjal will join Lazio at the end of the season after the Italian side paid the Russians in excess of £4m for his services.

1armedboxer

Winter, 2005

Mikhail Razhazan, satisfied with surviving in the Russian Premier Division, set about building a team capable of erasing relegation as a possibility as the season came to a close. With midfield maestro Beslan Adjindjal departing for Lazio for £4.2m, Razhazan had a transfer kitty worth talking about. However, with the relatively small stature of the club, the Sokol boss found himself forced to look to the bargain bucket once more, and big-name transfers were ruled out. Thankfully for the Saratov manager the Board of Directors agreed with his assertion that the training facilities at the club were diabolical for a team looking to move forward, and Sokol were furnished with a top-class academy and great practice resources.

The Board did, however, continue to see the drop as a possibility and asked Razhazan’s side to fight bravely against relegation in the forthcoming season.

Transfers

In

Dmitry Sennikov – Lokomotiv Moscow - £900k
Sergey Volkov – Amkar - £350k
Bennett Mnguni – Rostov – Russian Free Transfer
Michal Hanek – Dinamo Moscow – Russian Free Transfer
Tony Coyle – Rostov - Russian Free Transfer
Anton Rogochiy – Free Transfer
Alexandr Tochilin – Free Transfer

Out

Beslan Adjindjal – Lazio - £4.2m
Dmitry Bugakov – Hertha Berlin - £1.4m
Andrey Konovalov – Retired
Dmitry Klyuev – Retired
Vadim Garin – Free Transfer

The Coming Season

Mikhail Razhazan’s winter signings had a distinctively defensive leaning. From the previous season’s experience, it is this side of Sokol’s game that has obviously been singled out for improvement. Indeed, five of Razhazan’s signings can play at centre back, although the majority can play in a number of places across the back. Only midfielders Bennett Mnguni and Sergey Volkov are more attacking in Saratov’s close-season purchases.

With the Board expecting a brave fight against relegation, Mikhail Razhazan has set his sights on a comfortable mid-table finish. The 13th place achieved last term, Razhazan believes, in an acceptable benchmark from which to build, but the Saratov boss is hoping for more from his players than to roll over. With the club’s financial future now safe following the sale of Beslan Adjindjal, there may also be a big-name acquisition if the manager is able to tempt a player of real quality to the Volga.

1armedboxer

Pre-Season Friendlies

Friday 17th February, 2006

Sokol Saratov 1 (Mngumi 90; Volkov s/o 40)
Angusht 0

Left to Assistant Manager Vladimir Khristoforov, Sokol field a number of youth players in an unfamiliar formation and are lucky to win a meaningless game 1-0 after Sergey Volkov is sent off in the first half for questioning the referee’s parentage and sexual preference in the space of thirty seconds. Comments as to the fidelity of the official’s wife were apparently also a contributing factor.

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Thursday 23rd February, 2006

KamAZ 0
Sokol Saratov 3 (Gyan 7, Volkov 39, Lakhiyalov 90)

Good run-out for the new signings, with Sergey Volkov shining.

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Wednesday 1st March, 2006

Sokol Saratov 2 (Gyan 12, Slahor 61)
Sokol-2 Saratov 0

A run-out against the ‘B’ team to boost fitness and assess the progress of a few youngsters. The midfield was superb.

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Tuesday 7th March, 2006

Torpedo Volzhskiy 3 (Hanek og 2, Mandrygin 20, Vasilijev 81)
Sokol Saratov 4 (Lakhiyalov 7, Volkov 19, Zlydnev 41, Slahor 52)

A hugely entertaining game against the newly-promoted First Division side, dominated by the impressive Alexey Zlydnev in midfield.

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Ten goals in four pre-season games showed Mikhail Razhazan all he needed to know about his new signings. Still awaiting the return from injury of striker Roman Oreschuk as well as a number of defenders, Razhazan goes into the coming season full of confidence that a mid-table place is attainable.

1armedboxer

March, 2006

Saturday 11th
Russian Premier Division

CSKA Moscow 4 (Gogniev 19, 27, Semak 70, Samodin 81)
Sokol Saratov 1 (Slahor 10)

Missing Anton Rogochiy, Volodymyr Bondarenko, Baffour Gyan, Sergey Volkov and Roman Oreschuk through suspension as well as Eugeny Lutsenko through injury, Mikhail Razhazan was reduced almost to a bare bones attack for the opening game of the season. Reduced to a skeletal side, Sokol were lucky that CSKA were in such a charitable mood, wasting chance after chance but still managing to put the visitors to the sword. Razhazan will not have been impressed by a late challenge that ruled Fans’ Player of the Year Jan Slahor out for a fortnight.

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Saturday 18th
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 4 (Lakhiyalov 9, 25, Gyan 37, 48)
Rotor Volgograd 1 (Zubko 3)

Beginning the game bottom of the Premier Division after the 4-1 drubbing by CSKA, Sokol were at least boosted by the end of a number of player suspensions. After a shaky start, Saratov came into their own as the first half went on, with Bennett Mnguni putting in a commanding midfield performance.

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Wednesday 22nd
Russian Premier Division

Kuban 0
Sokol Saratov 0

A game dominated by Sokol, whose lack of a fit striker denied them the points in a game in which they had the chances but not the ruthlessness.

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Saturday 25th

Sokol Saratov 1 (Oreschuk 22)
Alania Vladikavkaz 0

Roman Oreschuk’s first of the season was enough to see off Alania, who should think themselves lucky that they weren’t buried underneath an avalanche of goals in the second half.

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Wednesday 29th
Russian Premier League Cup

Anzhi 2 (Davydov 18, Oganyan pen 76)
Sokol Saratov 3 (Gyan 22, Lakhiyalov 25, Oreschuk 89; Gyan s/o 91)

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Sokol end March in 6th place in the Russian Premier Division. With the midfield performing brilliantly and the strikers back to full fitness, it remains to be seen whether or not Mikhail Razhazan’s new-look defence can push his side onto greater things.

1armedboxer

April, 2006

Sunday 2nd
Russian Premier League Cup
1st Round 2nd Leg

Sokol Saratov 5 (8) (Rogochiy 9, Oreschuk 23, Hanek 50, Bondarenko 53, Slahor 69)
Anzhi 0 (2)

Alexey Zlydnev plays a starring role once more as Sokol crush Anzhi at the Lokomotiv.

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Saturday 8th
Russian Premier Division

Saturn 0
Sokol Saratov 1 (Lakhiyalov 75)

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Saturday 15th
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 2 (Oreschuk 5, Bondarenko 34)
Spartak Moscow 2 (Bazhenov 29, Pogrebnyak 89)

Sokol are punished for their inability to kill the game off with the plethora of chances they created in the second half.

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Wednesday 19th
Russian Premier Division

Anzhi 1 (Karmazinenko 14)
Sokol Saratov 2 (Hanek 27, Bugmyrin 86; Volkov s/o 68)

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Saturday 22nd
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 0
Krylja Sovetov 1 (Garin 94)

A toothless Sokol side missing no less than six attacking players defends admirably for over an hour and a half but is beaten at the last.

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Sunday 30th
Russian Premier League Cup
Quarter Final 1st leg

Saturn 3 (Rogachev 28, Delgado 31, Onopko 59)
Sokol Saratov 3 (Slahor 8, 13, Bondarenko 45)

Sokol throw away the lead twice and have to settle for a draw. Worse still, both Jan Slahor and Sergey Volkov leave the field injured in the second half.

1armedboxer

May, 2006

Saturday 6th
Russian Premier Division

Rubin 1 (Grishin 66)
Sokol Saratov 1 (Oreschuk pen 63; Bondarenko s/o 57)

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Wednesday 10th
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 0
Shinnik 1 (Dubinskiy 4)

Sokol fought bravely against the league leaders to claw there way back into the game after a sloppy opening five minutes saw them give away a soft opener, but the visitors’ defence holds out.

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Saturday 13th
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 1 (Zlydnev 25)
Lokomotiv Moscow 0

Another outstanding performance by Sokol star midfielder Alexey Zlydnev earns his side the three points after a powerful finish from close range proved the only goal of a close game.

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Saturday 20th
Russian Premier Division

Torpedo Moscow 1 (Kiselev pen 86)
Sokol Saratov 1 (Oreschuk 91)

Roman Oreschuk rescues a point for the blues with a last-gasp breakaway goal.

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Izvestiya report
Thursday 25th

United Demolished in Barcelona Exhibition

Manchester United were last night crushed by a rampant Barcelona side in the UEFA Champions League Final. United, whose relatively easy route to the final had included only AS Roma as top-quality opposition, were soundly beaten by a Spanish master class at the Brondby Stadion. Barcelona, who had beaten Valencia, Milan and Chelsea on the way to the final, went ahead through Joseba Exteberria on the half hour mark and doubled their lead five minutes later when Javier Saviola reacted quickest when the ball came back off a post. Just after half time Damien Duff put the result beyond doubt and in the closing stages Rafael Marquez rounded off a sensational performance from the Spaniards, who ran out 4-0 winners. The result leaves manager Steve Bruce relying on the FA Cup Final on Saturday for silverware following a fifth-placed league finish.

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Wednesday 31st
Russian Premier Division

Sokol Saratov 3 (Oreschuk 51, pen 57, pen 59)
FC Moscow 0

A ten-minute hat-trick from Roman Oreschuk gives Sokol a much-needed boost and sends them into 5th place.

1armedboxer

June, 2006

Wednesday 7th
Russian Premier League Cup
Quarter Final 2nd Leg

Sokol Saratov 2 (5) (Oreschuk pen 14, Rogochiy 41; Oreschuk missed pen 76)
Saturn 1 (4) Medvedev 90)

Roman Oreschuk sends Sokol through with his third penalty in two games, despite missing another spot-kick later in the game.

1armedboxer

World Cup, 2006

Hosts Germany found themselves in a group with Holland, Serbia & Montenegro and Canada whilst holders Brazil had to play Finland, Colombia and Nigeria in order to progress to the knock out stages. England arrived under the guidance of Sam Allardyce to play Peru, Chile and Eire in their group matches. Russia’s failure to qualify meant a month free from football, potentially, but Sokol manager Mikhail Razhazan knew that he had to keep his players fit for the second half of the season. A practice match was arranged against Solok-2 in order to monitor the progress of the reserves and then Razhazan planned a brief tour of the English Westcountry with games away at Plymouth, Torquay and Exeter.

Both Spain and Germany failed to qualify from the Group Stage, the latter after being battered by Holland and failing to score against Canada. In the Second Round, France beat England 2-0 in a dire match in Munich and Norway beat Brazil on penalties to see them into the Quarter Final. Portugal also went out, losing 1-0 to Serbia & Montenegro.

The Quarter Finals threw up some interesting encounters. While France smashed Norway 5-0 thanks largely to a Thierry Henry hat-trick, Denmark saw off Argentina on penalties. Alberto Gilardino scored the only goal of the game as Italy beat Holland and Serbia & Montenegro continued their impressive tournament with a 4-0 win over Croatia.

In the Semi Finals, Serbia’s run was ended by a single goal against Denmark, who face Italy in the Final after the Azzurri defeated Les Bleus on penalties

After Serbia claimed third spot with a 2-0 win over France, it was time for Denmark to meet Italy in the final. In a tense game dominated by the Azzurri, the unemployed Thomas Sorensen turned out to be the hero, saving Massimo Oddo’s spot kick to win the game 5-4 on penalties for Denmark after a 1-1 draw.

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Whilst the footballing crème battled amongst themselves to be declared the best team on Earth, the Russian transfer window opened with a shock. Lokomotiv Moscow, wracked by financial troubles, offloaded a number of players to other Russian clubs, including selling star striker Dmitry Sychev to Sokol Saratov. Manager Mikhail Razhazan admitted that his team did not really need anymore firepower up front, but added that Sychev was too good to turn down when the player’s agent came calling with a video of his client’s recent performances. The youngster flew to Britain and was thrust into the first team immediately for the visit to Exeter, and was an instant success, scoring in the 22nd minute of a 6-0 victory and being named Man of the Match.

A matter of some ten days later, Razhazan unveiled his second signing of the season from the financially embattled Lokomotiv, giving the fans attacking midfielder Marat Izmailov, whose, is has been mooted, will pave the way out of Russia for Sokol’s highly-rated youngster Alexey Zlydnev.

Summer Transfer Window

In

Dmitry Sychev – Lokomotiv Moscow - £2.2m
Marat Izmailov – Lokomoyiv Moscow - £1.8m

1armedboxer

July, 2006

Saturday 15th
Russian Premier Division

Terek 0 (Kossonogov s/o 49)
Sokol Saratov 5 (Izmailov 16, 76, Sychev 43, 51, 87)

Terek, without a win in the first half of the season, faced a fully fit and newly-expanded Sokol squad at home knowing that if wins were not forthcoming then relegation certainly would be. It mattered for little as Saratov put in their best performance since Mikhail Razhazan took over nearly three years ago. New signings Marat Izmailov and Dmitry Sychev scored the goals, including a debut hat-trick for Sychev, as the visitors moved to fourth in the league.

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Sokol Saratov 0
CSKA Moscow 2 (Geinrich 24, Carvalho 31)

Following news that new signing Marat Izmailov had broken his ankle in training, Sokol faced a CSKA team gunning for the championship. Missing the other newcomer Dmitry Sychev through suspension, Saratov went into the game as underdogs. Though Alexey Zlydnev shone, early defensive errors cost Sokol dearly.