League Play-Off

Stadion Sterlitamak
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Prokopyevsk's Matvey Zagnetnyi started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. The Prokopyevsk fans' excitement grew in the 8th match minute when Prokopyevsk's Matvey Zagnetnyi 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 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Stanislav Voroshilov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Potap Byshovets in the 11th minute of play. Vadim Abbakumov didn't have the luck on his side when he, from a short distance, got a opportunity for a shot on goal in the 16th minute. The shot missed the goal on the right side and Vadim Abbakumov ran dejectedly back to his position. Potap Byshovets took the ball and in the 23 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Stanislav Voroshilov. Stanislav Voroshilov dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. Matvey Zagnetnyi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Stanislav Voroshilov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Matvey Zagnetnyi might have been able to make a better finish in the 34th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Stanislav Voroshilov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Matvey Zagnetnyi ran back to his position shaking his head. If Arkadiy Mishin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the match had gone on for 46 minutes, Arkadiy Mishin took a quick shot and it went in 1-3 without a chance for Oleg Diakonov to make any attempt to save it. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Vadim Abbakumov stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Prokopyevsk's zone, Leonid Orlov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Oleg Diakonov came out of the goal and Leonid Orlov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Potap Byshovets in the 56thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Stanislav Voroshilov, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Evgeniy Lokshin's late challenge caught a Sterlitamak HC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Evgeniy Lokshin helped the player get up and apologised. Evgeniy Lokshin kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. When Sterlitamak HC's Vadim Abbakumov in the 63rd minute got a chance for a shot 63rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Prokopyevsk's goalie prevented a goal. Leonid Orlov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Oleg Diakonov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Stanislav Voroshilov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Matvey Zagnetnyi, who was totally free with the ball in the 68th minute. Oleg Diakonov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leonid Orlov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Prokopyevsk's Matvey Zagnetnyi in the 82nd minute got a chance for a shot 82nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Sterlitamak HC's goalie prevented a goal. In the 84th minute Vadim Abbakumov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Oleg Diakonov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The Sterlitamak HC fans' excitement grew in the 86th 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 2-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. 92 minutes into the game, Vladimir Izotov cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-4. Stanislav Voroshilov was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Sterlitamak HC's Leonid Orlov got a good chance for a goal in the 97th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Prokopyevsk had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.