League Play-Off

Kopeysk
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Valeriy Rozhnov kicked off to start the match. Valeriy Rozhnov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Timur Grigoriev's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Felix Babaevskiy read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 5th minute of play. Timur Grigoriev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Felix Babaevskiy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Felix Babaevskiy showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Timur Grigoriev in the 9th minute of the match. 10 minutes into the match, Saratov's goal looked a bit too open when Timur Grigoriev came free, but Felix Babaevskiy reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Valeriy Rozhnov struck a weak shot in the 16th minute. Grigoriy Melnikov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Saratov. Georgiy Polyanskiy received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Grigoriy Melnikov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Grigoriy Melnikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Valeriy Rozhnov in the 27th minute of the match. After 28 minutes of play, Saratov's Georgiy Polyanskiy made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Grigoriy Melnikov was left in no man's land by his defense there! Valeriy Rozhnov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Grigoriy Melnikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Georgiy Polyanskiy in the 36th minute of the match. Georgiy Polyanskiy recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 38th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Eduard Eliseev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Georgiy Polyanskiy received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Grigoriy Melnikov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 46th minute the ball was on its way in behind Kopeysk HC's goalkeeper Grigoriy Melnikov, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Timur Grigoriev stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Eduard Eliseev took the ball and in the 54 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Felix Babaevskiy. Felix Babaevskiy dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. Grigoriy Melnikov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Valeriy Rozhnov in the 58th minute of play. Kopeysk HC's Grigoriy Melnikov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Valeriy Rozhnov in the 59th minute of play. Georgiy Polyanskiy scored 1-2 in the 63rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Grigoriy Melnikov, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. When the match had gone on for 68 minutes, Valeriy Rozhnov took a quick shot and it went in 1-3 without a chance for Grigoriy Melnikov to make any attempt to save it. With a little luck, Kopeysk HC's Grigoriy Melnikov got control of the ball when Georgiy Polyanskiy tried to sneak it across the goal line. The supporters of Saratov booed when Kopeysk HC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nikita Chuhnin didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Kopeysk HC's zone, Valeriy Rozhnov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Grigoriy Melnikov came out of the goal and Valeriy Rozhnov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 79 minutes, Viktor Samoilov mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Kopeysk HC and the Saratov players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 79 played minutes Kopeysk HC got a freekick which was hit by Viktor Samoilov. Saratov's Felix Babaevskiy played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Timur Grigoriev in the 81st minute of play. After a rather tough play, Saratov's Albert Alferov got a free kick in the 82nd minute. After 84 played minutes Kopeysk HC got a freekick which was hit by Grigoriy Pokalyakin. Valeriy Rozhnov recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 85th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When the match was over Saratov could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Kopeysk HC throughout the match.