On December 18, 2024, the basketball team from Samara faced off against the dominant CSKA Moscow at home, in what turned out to be a challenging battle for the home team. CSKA Moscow managed to secure an emphatic victory with the final score of 93-63.
The match began with both teams showing intensity, but it was Samara who initially took control, leading 21-18 at the end of the first quarter. Anton Kardanakishvili and Eгор Амосов showed promise for Samara, contributing key points early on. Kardanakishvili delivered a '3+1' play, and позро_sn (Igor Popov) also added valuable points to give the home team the edge for the first quarter.
Unfortunately, the momentum shifted significantly as the game progressed. Coming out strong for the second quarter, CSKA Moscow escaped with a 10-0 run, showcasing their depth and experience. Despite some valiant efforts from Samara, including Danila Chikarev's mini-run and back-to-back three-pointers from Kardanakishvili, CSKA maintained their lead, closing the half up by just two points at 41-39.
The turning point came during the second half, where CSKA's offense kicked it up another notch. After Eгор Амосов's opening three-pointer of the third quarter, the Moscow team quickly established their dominance once again. The third quarter ended at 65-50, with CSKA establishing control over the game.
The fourth quarter was no different, as CSKA continued to push the pedal to the metal, extending their lead to over 30 points at times. The final buzzer echoed throughout the arena with Samara enduring their fourth consecutive loss, leaving them with only 7 wins out of 20 games this season, placing them at ninth on the league table.
Melo Trimble became the standout performer of the match, leading CSKA with 14 points, backed by 3 rebounds and 7 assists, demonstrating his all-around game and confirming his status as one of the league's top players. Samara's own Kardanakishvili had 13 points to his name along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists, showcasing his skill even during the rough patches.
This match marked another setback for Samara, who have had difficulties this season, facing off against other strong teams and struggling to find consistent performances. Their next fixture will be on December 21, when they welcome Parma Perm to their home court, providing them with another opportunity to turn their season around.
CSKA Moscow, on the other hand, has solidified its position at the top of the VTB United League standings, with 18 wins from 20 games. They are clearly focused on maintaining their momentum as they prepare to face Lokomotiv Kuban on December 22. The performance against Samara strengthens their championship aspirations, with fans excited about what lies ahead for the army team.
Both teams have shown resilience this season, but the contrasting trajectories leave CSKA Moscow on the brink of clinching the title, whilst Samara needs to regroup urgently to regain their form and climb the standings.
