League Play-Off

Stadion Penza
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Fedor Kantarovich made the kick off and thus started the match. 2 minutes into the game, German Hromov was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Penza FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Khimki the free kick. The supporters of Khimki booed when Penza FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. German Hromov didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Mark Bereznitskiy came up free with the goalie in the 5th minute, the Khimki fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Mark Bereznitskiy couldn't finish the play. Oleg Dolgolaptev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Innokentiy Korobov's late challenge caught a Khimki's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Innokentiy Korobov helped the player get up and apologised. After 11 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Penza FC! Aleksey Rodigin 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. Fedor Kantarovich fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Grigoriy Shalamanov having to interfere. Mark Bereznitskiy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vitaliy Yarkov having to interfere. After 27 played minutes Penza FC got a freekick which was hit by German Hromov. Vitaliy Yarkov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mark Bereznitskiy in the 30th minute of the match. Aleksey Rodigin struck a weak shot in the 37th minute. Grigoriy Shalamanov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Penza FC. Khimki's Grigoriy Shalamanov proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 41st minute of the match, managed to save Khimki from getting a goal against them. Grigoriy Shalamanov made a fantastic save in the 43rd minute, when Fedor Kantarovich sent off a good shot on target. After the first half Khimki were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Mark Bereznitskiy to strike the kick off in the second half. Vitaliy Yarkov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mark Bereznitskiy in the 55th minute of play. In the 56th minute, Oleg Dolgolaptev left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Khimki fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. After 60 minutes of play, Penza FC's Aleksey Rodigin made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Grigoriy Shalamanov was left in no man's land by his defense there! With a couple of smart ball manuevers Aleksey Rodigin in the 65th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Grigoriy Shalamanov saved Khimki from getting behind. Oleg Dolgolaptev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Vitaliy Yarkov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mark Bereznitskiy in the 78th minute of the match. Aleksey Rodigin blasted a shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Grigoriy Shalamanov having to make a save. After 89 minutes, Daniil Arhipov mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Khimki and the Penza FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Daniil Arhipov kicked well hit freekick during the 90th minute of the match. Vitaliy Yarkov made a fantastic save in the 92nd minute, when Oleg Dolgolaptev sent off a good shot on target. After 94 minutes of play, Khimki's Oleg Dolgolaptev made it 1-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Vitaliy Yarkov was left in no man's land by his defense there! The Khimki supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Khimki would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.