League Play-Off

Stadion Almetyevsk
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Pavel Alenichev made the kick off which started today's match. After a rather tough play, Volgograd's Vsevolod Mironov got a free kick in the 2nd minute. Petr Vyalbe showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pavel Alenichev, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. Petr Vyalbe stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pavel Alenichev's shot from short distance in the 7th minute. David Rogozin might have been able to make a better finish in the 9th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Eduard Katukov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. David Rogozin ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 14th match minute, Almetyevsk HC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Eduard Bazhenov to maneuver through the defense. Volgograd's Pavel Alenichev got a good chance for a goal in the 17th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 19th match minute, Volgograd was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kir Beshirov to maneuver through the defense. In the 22nd minute Almetyevsk HC were awarded a corner. Klim Fomin went to the cornerflag to take it. David Rogozin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eduard Katukov having to interfere. After 34 minutes, Petr Nepesov mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Volgograd and the Almetyevsk HC players grew even worse after the yellow card. David Rogozin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 36 minutes into the game, Stepan Zevakin was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Volgograd's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Almetyevsk HC the free kick. A collision led to Volgograd getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Stepan Zevakin hit a great ball. Petr Bolshevtsev's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Eduard Katukov firmly grabbed it by the left post. When Stepan Zevakin was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 40 minutes had been played. The supporters of Almetyevsk HC booed when Volgograd was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stepan Zevakin didn't get a good kick on the ball. Volgograd's Eduard Katukov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by David Rogozin in the 46th minute of play. 47 minutes into the match, Almetyevsk HC's goal looked a bit too open when Arseniy Erzakovich came free, but Petr Vyalbe reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell David Rogozin to make the kick off. Pavel Alenichev made a well adjusted shot against goal in the 53rdth minute coming free in front of the goal, but Petr Vyalbe would not let the ball come through at any expense and made a nice save by the left post. David Rogozin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Eduard Katukov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Volgograd's Eduard Katukov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by David Rogozin in the 66th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by David Rogozin in the 73rd minute of play forced Volgograd's goalkeeper Eduard Katukov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Arseniy Erzakovich had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Eduard Katukov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Petr Bolshevtsev in the 82nd minute of the match. 87 minutes into the match, Volgograd's goal looked a bit too open when David Rogozin came free, but Eduard Katukov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eduard Katukov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from David Rogozin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Almetyevsk HC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.