Leonid Slutsky secured his first win as head coach of Russia's national media football team after the side beat Tajikistan 4-3 in a friendly, Sport-Express reported.
The match was played on September 4 at the Central Republican Stadium in Dushanbe, the Tajik capital. Russia trailed 1-3 during the game before rallying to snatch victory.
Vasily Mavrin put Russia ahead in the eighth minute, but the hosts hit back with three goals in reply, scored by Fatkhuloev, Vosiev and Bobiev.
Russia's comeback
Anar Abdullaev pulled one goal back from a penalty, known in media football as a "bullet", in the 34th minute. Roman Pavlyuchenko then sealed the win in the 44th minute with a goal scored using the bonus red ball, a media football rule under which such a goal counts double. A Russian player, Mlechny, was sent off in the 42nd minute.
What is media football
Media football is a variant of the sport played largely by bloggers, streamers, former professional players and media personalities, with modified rules such as the bonus red ball that doubles the value of a goal. Slutsky's side is Russia's national team competing in this format.
Apartments gifted before kickoff
Ahead of the match, the company TAS International Group presented apartments in Dushanbe to both Slutsky and Russia squad member Alan Dzagoev, according to the Russian media football team's Telegram channel. The gifts were made as part of a partnership agreement signed with the Tajikistan Football Federation.
Slutsky and Dzagoev's backgrounds
Slutsky was appointed head coach of Russia's media football team on August 10. He previously managed Russia's senior national team and the Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Dzagoev is a three-time Russian champion who won the title with CSKA Moscow and is a former Russia national team player. Pavlyuchenko, who scored the winning goal, is a former Russia international striker best known for his time at Spartak Moscow and Tottenham Hotspur.
