Akhmat were held to a 1–1 draw by Rostov in their Matchday 7 clash in the Russian Premier League.

 

Giorgi Melkadze opened the score for Akhmat and Viktor Melekhin scored an equalizer for the home side. Akhmat midfielder Manuel Keliano was shown a second yellow card and sent off In added time (90+1’).

 

At the post-match press conference, Akhmat head coach Stanislav Cherchesov reflected on the result:

 

- We knew it would be a difficult game. Both teams had to cover a lot of ground, and for the spectators it probably looked a bit drawn out. Of course, we wanted to win, but a set-piece spoiled things for us somewhat.

 

— Should we assume you’re not satisfied with the result, considering the number of chances you created in the first half?

— That’s football. You never take all your chances. Ours were more clear-cut, but you have to keep control until the very end. In the second half, our counterattacks just didn’t come together.

 

— You set up to play balls in behind Rostov’s defence. Did you know their back line was the team’s main weakness?

— We analyzed Rostov and prepared for that. We knew what they could do both defensively and offensively. Nothing has changed — they’re still one of the league’s best sides when it comes to accurate deliveries into the box.

 

— Why did those balls stop working in the second half?

— Their coach made adjustments to stop them from working.

 

— What disappointed you most about the match?

— Nothing in particular disappointed me. As a coach, I wasn’t especially happy with the second half, but we can’t dwell on it — we’ve played six matches at full throttle. I thanked the players for that and told them we need to keep improving.

 

— And what about the rumours linking your club with several experienced domestic players?

— Transfers are a good thing, but I believe in the training process and building a team capable of winning. We’re active in other areas too, but training is more important.”

 

 

Rostov – Akhmat — 1:1 (0:1)

30 August 2025. Kick-off 20:45

Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don. Attendance: 8,386 spectators. 

Weather: +28°C, partly cloudy

 

Referees: Sukhoy (Lyubertsy), Gavrilin (Vladimir), Bolotenkov (Moscow)

VAR: Meshkov (Dmitrov), Frolov (Moscow)

 

Rostov: Yatimov, Melekhin, Semenchuk (Zhbanov, 56), Sako (Chistyakov, 28), Mironov, Vakhania, Ronaldo, Shchetinin, Kutsaev, Mohebi (Komarov, 75), Suleymanov (Golenkov, 75)

Head coach: Jonathan Alba

 

Akhmat: Shelia, Zare, Ibishev, Gandri, Ismael, Keliano, Bogosavac, Sidorov, Sadulaev (Mansilla, 75), Samorodov, Melkadze (Konaté, 75)

Head coach: Stanislav Cherchesov

 

Goals: Melkadze 45+4 (0:1), Melekhin 73 (1:1)

 

Bookings: Keliano (46)

Red cards: Keliano (90, second yellow card)