CSKA Moscow Women edged past Ryazan-VDV Women in a tightly contested 2-1 victory in the Russian Women's Cup on July 24, 2026. The match, played at the CSKA Sports Complex, saw the Moscow side come from behind to advance to the next round of the knockout competition.

Ryazan Takes Early Lead

Ryazan-VDV started brightly and stunned the home crowd by taking the lead in the 14th minute. A corner kick was cleared only as far as midfielder Anastasia Fedorova, who controlled the ball on the edge of the box and let fly with a powerful volley that flew past the CSKA goalkeeper. The goal injected confidence into Ryazan, who continued to press high and disrupt CSKA's rhythm.

CSKA struggled to find their passing game in the opening half-hour, frequently losing possession in midfield. However, they grew into the contest as the first period wore on, creating a few half-chances. Striker Olga Ponomareva forced a smart save from the Ryazan keeper with a header just before the interval, keeping the scoreline 1-0 at halftime.

CSKA's Second Half Revival

CSKA Moscow Women came out with renewed intensity after the break. They equalized in the 52nd minute. A quick throw-in caught the Ryazan defense off guard, and winger Elena Kuznetsova drove into the box before cutting the ball back for midfielder Daria Smirnova to fire home from close range.

The home side sensed victory and pushed for a winner. It came in the 73rd minute. A long ball over the top found Olga Ponomareva in behind the defense. She showed composure to round the advancing goalkeeper and slot into an empty net, making it 2-1. Ryazan-VDV pushed forward late, forcing a couple of corners, but CSKA's defense held firm to secure the win.

Cup Progress

With this result, CSKA Moscow Women advance to the quarter-finals of the Russian Women's Cup. For Ryazan-VDV, the defeat ends their cup run, though they can take positives from a competitive performance. CSKA will look to build on this momentum as they continue their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts.