The 2020/2021 Russian Football Cup Final was a football match held on 12 May 2021 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. It was the first Russian Football Cup Final to be hosted by Nizhny Novgorod.[1] The match was contested by Moscow's Lokomotiv and Samara's Krylya Sovetov; Lokomotiv won 3:1.[2]

The Match

Kick-off was scheduled for 20:00 Moscow time.[1] Lokomotiv entered the game as clear favorites: Marco Nikolić's side had demolished CSKA 3:0 in the semi-final, whereas Krylya Sovetov of the FNL had only squeezed past Akhmat on penalties (0:0, pen. 4:1).[4] Nevertheless, the match proved tense. In the 14th minute Kamano opened the scoring after a bad error by Zeffane, but Sarveli equalized in the 22nd minute following a intricate combination play.[4] In the first half Krylya Sovetov looked the stronger side and had chances to take the lead, but failed to convert their goal-scoring opportunities. At half-time, by the players' own accounts, a serious team talk took place in the Lokomotiv dressing room.[4] In the 48th minute Fyodor Smolov converted a penalty — 2:1 — and in the 84th Murilo made it 3:1 to seal the result.[4] For Lokomotiv, it was their ninth Russian Cup triumph.[2]

Trophy Tour and Related Events

On May 10, 2021, the cup was delivered to Nizhny Novgorod's Strigino Airport. Accompanying the trophy were tournament ambassadors — footballers Dmitry Alenichev, Yegor Titov, Andrey Karyaka, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, and Channel One sports commentator Viktor Gusev.[1] The trophy tour began in Gorodets, where the cup was displayed at tourist venues; autograph and photo sessions, ticket and merchandise giveaways, and a friendly match between the ambassadors and local residents were also held there. The cup then took a river cruise along the Oka and the Volga aboard the Valday hydrofoil vessel. That same evening, the football stars met with fans at one of Nizhny Novgorod's shopping centers.[1] In the days that followed, the Russian Football Union held master classes in the city, including sessions for children with disabilities.[1]

For fans who could not get into the stadium, a fan zone with a live broadcast of the match on a big screen was set up on Minin and Pozharsky Square.[1]

Significance for the city

Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin described the Russian Cup final as an additional stimulus for the development of sport in the region and as part of the events program marking Nizhny Novgorod's 800th anniversary. Alongside the final, the basketball Champions League "Final Eight" was held in the city in May 2021, with the European Modern Pentathlon Championship and the "Marathon 800" planned for later in the year.[1]

Sources

  1. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — How Nizhny Novgorod is preparing to host the Russian Football Cup final on May 12, 2021
  2. milirum.ru — The Russian Football Cup final was held in Nizhny Novgorod on May 12 :) — Milirum
  3. championat.com — SberID Authorization
  4. football.kulichki.net — Russian Football Cup 2020/21.