League Play-Off

Saint Petersburg
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) After a rather tough play, Saint Petersburg's Filimon Stepanenko got a free kick in the 5th minute. After 6 played minutes, Khimki FC's Viktor Zheglov shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Ilya Shurnov came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Khimki FC reached it. A hard shot 7 in the game by Lev Titov from a close distance when the talented Zinoviy Berezutskiy managed to make a qualified save. Khimki FC's players were relieved. In the 15th minute, Lev Titov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Zinoviy Berezutskiy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Efim Zhinovich, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Khimki FC's Zinoviy Berezutskiy played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Efim Zhinovich in the 32nd minute of play. 36 minutes into the match, Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Yaromir Radugin came free, but Ilya Shurnov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, Khimki FC's Zinoviy Berezutskiy got control of the ball when Efim Zhinovich tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Lev Titov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Zinoviy Balbutskiy's late challenge caught a Saint Petersburg's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Zinoviy Balbutskiy helped the player get up and apologised. Zinoviy Balbutskiy kicked well hit freekick during the 40th minute of the match. Khimki FC's Zinoviy Berezutskiy proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 42nd minute of the match, managed to save Khimki FC from getting a goal against them. In the 43rd minute, Efim Zhinovich fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. Lev Titov could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 45th minute of the match, but Zinoviy Berezutskiy made a huge save. Lev Titov might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Zinoviy Berezutskiy. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lev Titov ran back to his position shaking his head.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Valeriy Shubin to strike the kick off in the second half. After 59 minutes, Filimon Stepanenko mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Saint Petersburg and the Khimki FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 59 played minutes Saint Petersburg got a freekick which was hit by Filimon Stepanenko. After some careless play in the Saint Petersburg defense, Valeriy Shubin kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ilya Shurnov. The Saint Petersburg fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ilya Shurnov should have stopped the shot. In the 63rd minute, Timur Motchenko hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 67 minutes into the game, Efim Zhinovich cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Zinoviy Berezutskiy was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Ilya Shurnov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Valeriy Shubin in the 71st minute of the match. Yaromir Radugin's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ilya Shurnov read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 73rd minute of play. When Filimon Stepanenko was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 73 minutes had been played. A collision led to Saint Petersburg getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Filimon Stepanenko hit a great ball. Lev Titov struck a weak shot in the 77th minute. Zinoviy Berezutskiy didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Saint Petersburg. Lev Titov 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. Danil Barskiy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Zinoviy Berezutskiy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lev Titov in the 84th minute of play. With a little luck, Saint Petersburg's Ilya Shurnov got control of the ball when Yaromir Radugin tried to sneak it across the goal line. 90 minutes into the match, Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Valeriy Shubin came free, but Ilya Shurnov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Pahom Miheev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 92nd minute. Ilya Shurnov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. For all the effort they put into the match, the Khimki FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Saint Petersburg.