Spartak's decision to rest key players in a knockout match raises questions about their strategic planning and prioritization of league performance over cup competitions.
Zenit's ability to rotate players while still securing victories highlights their squad depth and tactical flexibility, positioning them as strong contenders in the tournament.
The penalty shootout performances from Ural and Sochi illustrate the high-pressure stakes of cup competitions, where every decision and execution can determine the outcome.
Spartak may need to reassess their approach to cup competitions moving forward, as their current strategy did not yield the desired results.
Zenit is likely to continue their strong form in the tournament, potentially setting them up for another title run if they maintain their current performance levels.
Ural's success in reaching the semi-finals could inspire other lower-tier teams to push for promotion and success in future cup competitions.
In a dramatic turn of events, Spartak Moscow faced a disappointing defeat against Rostov in the RPL Path of the Russian Cup, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. The match, held in Rostov-on-Don, saw Spartak struggling without key players, ultimately leading to a 2-1 loss that relegated them to the Path of Regions. Coach Dejan Stankovic opted for a rotation strategy, resting several starters ahead of an important league match against Krasnodar. Despite a second-half resurgence, Spartak was unable to equalize after Rostov's early goals from Yegor Golenkov and Christopher Martins. Meanwhile, Zenit St. Petersburg secured their spot in the next round with a comfortable win over Akhmat, capitalizing on a defensive error and showcasing their depth with a strong performance from their substitutes.
Zenit demonstrated their dominance in the tournament, easily overcoming Akhmat in their return match after a decisive first leg. The match featured a standout performance from Luciano Gonda, who capitalized on a mistake by Lucas Lovat to score. Despite some missed opportunities, Zenit continued to control the game and ultimately advanced to the semi-finals. In other matches, Ural and Sochi also competed fiercely, with Ural emerging victorious in a penalty shootout against Khimki, marking their return to the semi-finals of the Path of Regions. Sochi's match against Dynamo Makhachkala ended similarly, with the hosts advancing thanks to key saves from their goalkeeper.
