League Play-Off

Volzhsky
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Veniamin Zuev kicked off to start the match. A collision led to Sterlitamak HC getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Vadim Abbakumov hit a great ball. Vadim Abbakumov blasted a shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Pavel Cheyukov having to make a save. When the match clock showed 5 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Leonid Orlov sped through Volzhsky's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Pavel Cheyukov. In the 12th minute Leonid Orlov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pavel Cheyukov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Pavel Cheyukov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Leonid Orlov, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. Arseniy Kameraz kicked well hit freekick during the 14th minute of the match. Vadim Abbakumov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Pavel Cheyukov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Pavel Cheyukov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Leonid Orlov in the 18th minute of play. Vadim Abbakumov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Pavel Cheyukov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vadim Abbakumov in the 20th minute of the match. In the 21st minute, Innokentiy Stepanenko hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Sterlitamak HC's Leonid Orlov managed to work through Volzhsky's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. Leonid Orlov dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in. In the 23rd minute, Vadim Abbakumov got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 27 minutes into the match, Sterlitamak HC's Vadim Abbakumov sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Pavel Cheyukov narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The Sterlitamak HC fans' excitement grew in the 29th match minute when Sterlitamak HC's Vadim Abbakumov looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The supporters of Sterlitamak HC booed when Volzhsky was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Yuriy Egotov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pavel Cheyukov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vadim Abbakumov, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. If Leonid Orlov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 40thth minute of the game Vadim Abbakumov who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Volzhsky's Pavel Cheyukov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Stanislav Voroshilov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Veniamin Zuev in the 47th minute of play.

Yuriy Svirin kicked well hit freekick during the 51st minute of the match. After 53 played minutes, Volzhsky's German Noskov shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Stanislav Voroshilov came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Volzhsky reached it. Leonid Orlov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Leonid Orlov could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 60th minute of the match, but Pavel Cheyukov made a huge save. After a defensive mix-up in Sterlitamak HC's zone, Boris Gostev stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Stanislav Voroshilov came out of the goal and Boris Gostev tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 74 played minutes Sterlitamak HC got a freekick which was hit by Anatoliy Teleshev. Volzhsky's Veniamin Zuev got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 90 minutes of play Sterlitamak HC's Anatoliy Teleshev was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Boris Gostev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Stanislav Voroshilov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Sterlitamak HC walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.