League Play-Off

Stadion Kirov
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Grigoriy Melnikov made a fantastic save in the 4th minute, when Konstantin Rystsov sent off a good shot on target. Konstantin Rystsov had several of the Kopeysk HC's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 13 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 1-0 score and a disappointed Grigoriy Melnikov as he didn't even see the shot coming. In the 17th 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. Timur Grigoriev's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Anton Arhipov read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 20th minute of play. After 23 minutes of play, Kopeysk HC's Timur Grigoriev made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Anton Arhipov was left in no man's land by his defense there! Anton Arhipov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Timur Grigoriev, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Konstantin Rystsov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Grigoriy Melnikov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Kopeysk HC's Grigoriy Melnikov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rostislav Boyarinov in the 44th minute of play. Mikhail Manevich's late challenge caught a Kirov's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mikhail Manevich helped the player get up and apologised. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rostislav Boyarinov in the 47th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Grigoriy Melnikov saved Kopeysk HC from getting behind. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Timur Grigoriev made a kick off. In the 52nd minute, Mikhail Manevich made a precise shot to the right of Anton Arhipov. Kirov's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. Kirov's Arkadiy Malafeev got a good chance for a goal in the 57th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Konstantin Rystsov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Timur Grigoriev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Anton Arhipov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rostislav Boyarinov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Maksim Markarov during the 76th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Kirov getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Maksim Markarov hit a great ball. Timur Grigoriev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The supporters of Kirov booed when Kopeysk HC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 79 match minutes in a wonderful position. Viktor Samoilov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Rostislav Boyarinov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In a very dangerous position, a player in Kirov fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 93rd minute. Penalty! The Kopeysk HC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Kopeysk HC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.