Crimea River bounced back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat to These Charming Men in round 5 with a 2-0 victory in a, literally, bruising round 6 encounter with Abu Dhabi United.
Talinmer's side set what would prove to be an early marker for the tone of the match as Claudio Moura and Regillio Jordan found themselves in referee Manuel Ficuz book within the opening 10 minutes. Quickly followed by Crimea midfielder Andrey Arshavin, United midfielder Jonathan Boulding and Crimea defender Rodrigo Rios.
With meaty tackles the order of the day both sides struggled to create much in the way of chances until referee Ficuz handed United a lifeline with a spot kick award on 40 minutes. Fortunately for the home support United forward could only muster a weak effort easily saved by 'River custodian Lukasz Fabianski.
United continued the second 45 as they finished the first 45 with Ilppo Visavouri the fourth United player in the referees book mere seconds before Alan Smith opened the scoring for the home side with a point blank header from an Arshavin cross.
A 59th minute injury to inspirational River skipper Marcel Desailly looked to dent Rivers chances of taking anything from the match. Even more so when, on 65 minutes, 5th choice penalty taker Thomas Vermaelen stepped forward to take a rather harshly awarded penalty, despite every single other penalty taker in the Crimea penalty taking order being on the pitch. And, of course, the defender hit his penalty into row Z to let United off the hook.
The home side did wrap up the three points on 76 minutes when Carl Spegel reacted fastest in a goal mouth scramble to prod the ball home for his first ever Crimea goal.
The home side then settled down to see out the remaining 14 minutes, though 16 form, 8 skill freekick taker Arshavin did manage to find time to miss somewhere in the region of a Grahams number of freekicks.
"Disappointed," remarked a visibly disappointed River head coach post match, "frankly we should have put United to the sword out there on Tuesday. And we would have too had Andy not decided to punt the ball into the stand at every freekick and Thommo rather unexpectedly step forward to take the penalty."
"Still, the lads kept their heads against a side only here not to play football but to engage in some sort of competition to cause the most serious injury they could. We were fortunate to only lose player to a side leaping into tackles like they were in some kind of cage fight."
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