Torpedo Moskva Blaze Past Veles: Galoyan Ignites Cup Run in Khimki Statement Win
On a brisk October afternoon at Arena Khimki, Torpedo Moskva delivered a performance of both ruthlessness and redemption, dispatching fellow Muscovites Veles 3-0 to surge into the next round of the Russian Cup. In a match that demanded clarity of intent from two clubs chasing very different narratives, Torpedo seized the moment, washing away recent league frustrations with a display as clinical as it was symbolic.
From the opening whistle, Torpedo’s purpose was unmistakable. The stakes—progress in the Cup and a necessary boost for a squad battered by uneven First League form—were visible in their urgency. No time was wasted; just seven minutes had elapsed when Artur Galoyan stepped up to the penalty spot. The midfielder, whose leadership and poise have grown central to Torpedo’s identity, converted with icy precision, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and igniting the home crowd. The early goal provided both cushion and confidence, precisely what Torpedo lacked in recent First League outings—a two-goal draw at Arsenal Tula and a bruising 1-4 defeat at home to Chernomorets.
The first half unfolded with Torpedo dictating tempo, denying Veles space to breathe. Veles, contesting from the Second League A after a patchwork autumn marked by late equalizers and tight defeats, entered the tie buoyed by a strong Cup record of their own—three wins from three, eight goals scored, and only two conceded. Yet the gulf in class and composure was apparent, and as the clock crept toward halftime, Torpedo struck again. Dušan Bakić, the Montenegrin striker whose move to Moscow was designed for moments like this, latched onto a crisp through ball. With defenders scrambling, Bakić finished clinically in the 45th minute, the kind of goal that changes not just matches, but momentum and mood.
Trailing by two, Veles emerged from the break with a glimmer of hope, eager to recapture the Cup spirit that propelled recent victories—such as the comeback against Rotor Volgograd. But Torpedo’s midfield, anchored by Aleksandr Orekhov, simply refused to yield. Orekhov, who epitomizes both the club’s grit and ambition, capped the afternoon in the 67th minute, bursting into the box to slot home Torpedo’s third after sustained pressure had exhausted the visitors’ defensive shape. For Veles, who had shown resilience in league draws and narrow losses, there was no escape this time.
The match’s turning points were sharp and decisive. Galoyan’s penalty erased any early anxiety. Bakić’s pre-halftime strike ensured Torpedo dictated the narrative. Orekhov’s goal extinguished Veles’ hopes and reminded observers why Torpedo remain a force in knockout competitions even when league form stutters.
Context makes this win all the richer for Torpedo Moskva. The club’s recent league form—just one win in their last five and goals conceded in bunches—had cast doubts on their Cup credentials. Yet the Cup, as ever, offers the promise of renewal. Torpedo’s 100% win rate in the competition, three goals per game, and a defense rediscovering its mettle, suggest a side capable of separating their Cup ambitions from domestic frustrations. For Veles, the defeat punctuates a challenging autumn. Their Cup run had been a testament to grit and opportunism, outscoring opponents and grabbing points at the wire. But against Torpedo, the step up in opposition was decisive.
Head-to-head history also leaned Torpedo’s way. Over the past five encounters, Torpedo have claimed three victories, Veles only one, and a lone draw. The result at Khimki marks the second consecutive home win in this fixture for Torpedo, further solidifying psychological ascendancy in Moscow derbies.
There was little disciplinary drama—no red cards, but plenty of hard tackles as Torpedo fought to maintain control and Veles strained to disrupt the rhythm. Substitutions for Torpedo were conservative, signaling both the comfort of their lead and the need to preserve legs for a tight league calendar.
Looking forward, the stakes shift. Torpedo Moskva will ride this victory into a crucial run of league fixtures, starting with Shinnik Yaroslavl and Chayka Peschanokopskoye, knowing Cup momentum can be a tonic for league inconsistency. For Veles, the exit stings, but focus now returns to salvaging form in Second League A—where draws and narrow defeats have become a frustrating theme.
In Moscow, derbies linger in memory, but Cup wins endure in legacy. For Torpedo Moskva, their October revival at Khimki may well be the moment that shapes a season.