Renowned football commentator Konstantin Genich has heavily criticized CSKA Moscow’s performance in their 2-1 victory over Pari Nizhny Novgorod in the 29th round of the Russian Premier League.

“Honestly, 20 years ago, watching what happened in the second half, I would have said that some CSKA players were throwing the match. The way Joao Victor defended… you can’t, as a center-back, just give the ball away to the opponent in such simple situations. You might fail to track back tactically or be slow to reposition, but when you have the ball at your feet and no one is pressing you, and you still pass it straight to the opposition on your own half, and you do it several times… At one point it seemed like he was upset with Torop and thought, ‘Let me just gift them a goal now,'” Genich said on the program “Comment.Show.”

CSKA currently sits in fifth place in the Russian championship with 48 points from 29 matches. Pari Nizhny Novgorod occupies 15th place in the RPL standings, in the direct relegation zone, trailing the playoff spot by three points.

This was a dramatic comeback for CSKA, who trailed until the 89th minute before scoring twice to snatch all three points. However, Genich’s harsh critique highlights the team’s defensive lapses, particularly from Brazilian center-back Joao Victor, who made several costly errors that almost cost his side dearly. The win keeps CSKA in contention for a European spot, but such performances raise concerns about their consistency under pressure. Meanwhile, Pari Nizhny Novgorod’s relegation fears deepened after this heartbreaking late defeat, leaving them with a tough battle to avoid the drop in the final matchday.