League Play-Off

Stadion Novocheboksa
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Stanislav Dasaev might have been able to make a better finish in the 6th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Denis Aksenov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Stanislav Dasaev ran back to his position shaking his head. After some fancy dribbling in the 7th minute, Eldar Smolskiy managed to get in a good position for a shot. Salavat's supporters rose to their feet, but Eldar Smolskiy was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Denis Aksenov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Valentin Belozerov was a little too slow when Aleksey Molchanov got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 9th minute. The score was now 1-0. When the match clock showed 14 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Stanislav Dasaev sped through Novocheboksarsk FC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Denis Aksenov. Salavat's Valentin Belozerov proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 21st minute of the match, managed to save Salavat from getting a goal against them. Aleksey Molchanov struck a weak shot in the 22nd minute. Valentin Belozerov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Novocheboksarsk FC. Valentin Belozerov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Aleksey Molchanov in the 26th minute of the match. In the 29th minute, Zinoviy Drizulis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Aleksey Molchanov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Boris Gromov blasted a shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Valentin Belozerov having to make a save. Aleksey Molchanov's late challenge caught a Salavat's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Aleksey Molchanov helped the player get up and apologised. In the 37th minute, Aleksey Molchanov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 38th minute Eldar Smolskiy shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Denis Aksenov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Eldar Smolskiy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Denis Aksenov having to interfere. 47 minutes into the match, Salavat's goalkeeper Valentin Belozerov had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Boris Gromov. Boris Gromov could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 49th minute of the match, but Valentin Belozerov made a huge save. 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 Eldar Smolskiy made a kick off. If Stanislav Dasaev had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Denis Aksenov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eldar Smolskiy, who was totally free with the ball in the 57th minute. 58 minutes into the match, Salavat's goal looked a bit too open when Boris Gromov came free, but Valentin Belozerov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Boris Gromov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 65th match minute, Novocheboksarsk FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Efim Limonov to maneuver through the defense. Stanislav Dasaev might have been able to make a better finish in the 69th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Denis Aksenov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Stanislav Dasaev ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 71st minute Aleksey Molchanov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Valentin Belozerov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Valentin Belozerov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Boris Gromov in the 73rd minute of the match. Valentin Belozerov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Zinoviy Drizulis, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. If Boris Gromov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Filimon Ermoshin hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. Boris Gromov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 94th minute the ball was on its way in behind Salavat's goalkeeper Valentin Belozerov, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Sergey Grigoriev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Denis Aksenov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.