League Play-Off

Pskov
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Kirov's Rustam Gerbanovskiy 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. If Igor Bodrenin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Roman Zubovskiy hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. 13 minutes into the match, Kirov's goalkeeper Illarion Demyanenko had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Vadim Chernobrivenko. Illarion Demyanenko took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Igor Bodrenin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Roman Korshun during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 24th minute, one of Kirov:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Kirov. With a little luck, Kirov's Illarion Demyanenko got control of the ball when Stepan Ilyushin tried to sneak it across the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Igor Bodrenin in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Illarion Demyanenko saved Kirov from getting behind. When Igor Bodrenin came up free with the goalie in the 36th minute, the Pskov FC 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 Igor Bodrenin couldn't finish the play. Stepan Ilyushin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Illarion Demyanenko having to interfere. Illarion Demyanenko made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Igor Bodrenin in the 41st minute of play. Illarion Demyanenko made a fantastic save in the 45th minute, when Stepan Ilyushin sent off a good shot on target. Illarion Demyanenko showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Igor Bodrenin, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Igor Bodrenin to strike the kick off in the second half. Pskov FC's Igor Bodrenin got a good chance for a goal in the 53rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 59th minute, Valter Cherskiy managed to get in a good position for a shot. Pskov FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Valter Cherskiy was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Illarion Demyanenko breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of Pskov FC booed when Kirov was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 60 match minutes in a wonderful position. Irakliy Blyakhin didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 73 minutes of play, Pskov FC's Stepan Ilyushin made it 4-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Illarion Demyanenko was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 80th minute, Igor Bodrenin left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Pskov FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 5-0. Arseniy Nekrasov struck a weak shot in the 84th minute. Vladimir Shilov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Kirov. If Stepan Ilyushin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Stepan Ilyushin in the 92nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Illarion Demyanenko prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Arseniy Nekrasov struck a weak shot in the 94th minute. Vladimir Shilov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Kirov. When the referee ended the match the Pskov FC players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.