League Play-Off

Balakovo
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Grigoriy Arshavin started the match with the kick off. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 3rd minute of the game. One of Seversk FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Balakovo FC:s goal. Aleksey Folyak took the ball and in the 4 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Timofey Grigoriev. Timofey Grigoriev dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. In the 8th minute Konstantin Rozhkov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Konstantin Rogulin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Konstantin Nikitin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Konstantin Rogulin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Konstantin Nikitin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 17th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 21st minute of the match Ernest Bolshakov sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Konstantin Rogulin skillfully saved the ball. The supporters of Seversk FC booed when Balakovo FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 22 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marat Isakov didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Konstantin Nikitin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Konstantin Nikitin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 26th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 28 minutes into the match, Balakovo FC's goal looked a bit too open when Konstantin Rozhkov came free, but Konstantin Rogulin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marat Isakov blasted a shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Timofey Grigoriev having to make a save. Roman Aripovs short, quick shot in the 39thth minute got Timofey Grigoriev to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Seversk FC's Timofey Grigoriev played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Grigoriy Arshavin in the 40th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Grigoriy Arshavin in the 42nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Timofey Grigoriev saved Seversk FC from getting behind. Konstantin Nikitin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

Konstantin Rozhkov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rudolf Predkin hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. Konstantin Rogulin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Konstantin Nikitin, who was totally free with the ball in the 57th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Konstantin Nikitin in the 63rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Konstantin Rogulin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Konstantin Nikitin had several of the Balakovo FC's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 63 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 1-1 score and a disappointed Konstantin Rogulin as he didn't even see the shot coming. 67 minutes into the match, Seversk FC's goal looked a bit too open when Roman Aripov came free, but Timofey Grigoriev reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Balakovo FC's Konstantin Rogulin proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 75th minute of the match, managed to save Balakovo FC from getting a goal against them. If Roman Aripov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 79th match minute, Seversk FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Artem Strakovskiy to maneuver through the defense. Grigoriy Arshavin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 84th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Konstantin Rozhkov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 94 minutes into the match, Grigoriy Arshavin notched a goal, 2-1, to the right of Seversk FC's Timofey Grigoriev. Timofey Grigoriev was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Balakovo FC fans cheered their team off the field, for while Seversk FC had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.