League Play-Off

Kovrov
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Kovrov FC's Valeriy Gronskiy started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. If Valeriy Gronskiy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rudolf Potapovs short, quick shot in the 10thth minute got Fedor Samsonov to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 14th minute, Evgeniy Haritonov ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Fedor Samsonov was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. Oleg Shulga's late challenge caught a Magadan's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Oleg Shulga helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Kovrov FC getting a freekick after 19 minutes play. Oleg Shulga hit a great ball. Valeriy Gronskiy's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Fedor Samsonov read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 24th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Valeriy Gronskiy in the 29th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Fedor Samsonov saved Magadan from getting behind. Magadan's Fedor Samsonov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Valeriy Gronskiy in the 31st minute of play. In the 35th minute, Valeriy Gronskiy reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Fedor Samsonov. The goal made the score 2-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rudolf Potapov got free with Fedor Samsonov in the 38th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Fedor Samsonov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Valeriy Gronskiy, who was totally free with the ball in the 43rd minute. In the 46th minute, Rudolf Potapov 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. If Rudolf Potapov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

The wind increased when Evgeniy Larionov made the kick off in the second half. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sergey Lorents during the 61st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Kovrov FC's Valeriy Gronskiy got a good chance for a goal in the 64th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 66th minute Valeriy Gronskiy shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fedor Samsonov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Fedor Samsonov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rudolf Potapov in the 68th minute of the match. 71 minutes into the game, one of Magadan:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. If Evgeniy Larionov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 76th minute, Valeriy Gronskiy hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Fedor Samsonov stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Rudolf Potapov's shot from short distance in the 82nd minute. Valeriy Gronskiy received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Fedor Samsonov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Sergey Gordyukov kicked well hit freekick during the 86th minute of the match. Rudolf Potapov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Fedor Samsonov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Magadan booed when Kovrov FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 96 match minutes in a wonderful position. Oleg Shulga didn't get a good kick on the ball. Magadan's Boris Isaev got a good chance for a goal in the 97th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Kovrov FC walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.