League Play-Off

Stadion Artem
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Silvestr Gurev took the kick off in the first half of the match. Gerasim Pshenitsin kicked well hit freekick during the 2nd minute of the match. In the 5th minute Rustam Mukasey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fedor Pestryakov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 8 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Artem FC! Sochi's Fedor Pestryakov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rustam Mukasey in the 14th minute of play. When Konstantin Kolyak fell near the penalty area in the 15th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Sochi's protests and gave Konstantin Kolyak a yellow card for diving instead. In the 15th minute, Konstantin Kolyak hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rustam Mukasey sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Rustam Mukasey had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 23 minutes into the game, Sochi's Aleksey Zatyrkevich nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Igor Merkulev made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. In the 26thth minute of the game Silvestr Gurev who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Artem FC's Igor Merkulev was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After 32 minutes of play, Sochi's Silvestr Gurev made it 0-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Igor Merkulev was left in no man's land by his defense there! Igor Merkulev took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Silvestr Gurev, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nikolay Kosyura recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 42nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Aleksey Zatyrkevich received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Igor Merkulev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Igor Merkulev stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Silvestr Gurev's shot from short distance in the 46th minute.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Rustam Mukasey was the one to do the kick off. Igor Merkulev stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Silvestr Gurev's shot from short distance in the 54th minute. Aleksandr Laktionov charged in rather forcefully in the 55th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Aleksandr Laktionov the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Fedor Pestryakov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rustam Mukasey, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 62nd minute Rustam Mukasey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fedor Pestryakov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 64 minutes into the match, Artem FC's Nikolay Kosyura sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Fedor Pestryakov narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 66th minute, Silvestr Gurev fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Igor Merkulev, passed just outside the right post. After 70 played minutes Artem FC got a freekick which was hit by Anton Sennikov. In the 73rd minute Sochi were awarded a corner. Andrey Kvasyuk went to the cornerflag to take it. 77 minutes into the match, Sochi's goal looked a bit too open when Rustam Mukasey came free, but Fedor Pestryakov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 78 minutes into the game, Artem FC's Nikolay Kosyura nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Fedor Pestryakov made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-4. If Aleksey Zatyrkevich had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Fedor Pestryakov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nikolay Kosyura, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aleksey Zatyrkevich sent away a hard shot on goal in the 85th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Silvestr Gurev in the 86th minute of play forced Artem FC's goalkeeper Igor Merkulev to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Sochi booed when Artem FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 88 match minutes in a wonderful position. Anton Sennikov didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 93rd match minute, Artem FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aleksandr Laktionov to maneuver through the defense. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Silvestr Gurev in the 95th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Igor Merkulev saved Artem FC from getting behind. Nikolay Kosyura might have been able to make a better finish in the 97th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Fedor Pestryakov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nikolay Kosyura ran back to his position shaking his head.