League Play-Off

Stadion Volgograd
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Klim Britaev started the match with the kick off. Lev Lichkun showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Boris Savin, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. 6 minutes into the match, Volzhsky's goalkeeper Lev Lichkun had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Boris Savin. Boris Savin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Lev Lichkun tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Albert Belyaev hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 16th minute, Spartak Boyarinov managed to get in a good position for a shot. Volgograd FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Spartak Boyarinov was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Lev Lichkun breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Konstantin Elhov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Lev Lichkun tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lev Lichkun was out of position in the 29 minute of play, and Boris Savin capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Boris Savin really showed his touch with that goal: 2-0. In the 32nd minute, Yuvenaliy Vasiliev hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Boris Savin's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Lev Lichkun read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 34th minute of play. In the 38th minute, Artemiy Grishunin got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. If Artemiy Grishunin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 46th minute Volgograd FC were awarded a corner. Spartak Boyarinov went to the cornerflag to take it. Albert Nosaev made a great header on Volgograd FC's corner, it was just that Volzhsky's Lev Lichkun managed to reach the ball for a save. Lev Lichkun showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Boris Savin in the 48th minute of the match. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Boris Savin made a kick off. Klim Britaev struck a weak shot in the 53rd minute. Gennadiy Antoshin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Volzhsky. When Artemiy Grishunin came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Volzhsky fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Artemiy Grishunin couldn't finish the play. Veniamin Verevkin's late challenge caught a Volzhsky's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Veniamin Verevkin helped the player get up and apologised. In the 56th match minute, Volgograd FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Veniamin Verevkin to maneuver through the defense. 58 minutes had been played when some careless play by Volgograd FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Oleg Kulikov was slow to take the kick. During this time Volzhsky's players had a chance to rest. In the 61st minute, Yuvenaliy Vasiliev hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Volgograd FC getting a freekick after 64 minutes play. Veniamin Verevkin hit a great ball. In the 67th minute Klim Britaev shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gennadiy Antoshin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Artemiy Grishunin could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 68th minute of the match, but Gennadiy Antoshin made a huge save. Boris Savin charged in rather forcefully in the 74th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Boris Savin the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 74 played minutes Volgograd FC got a freekick which was hit by Boris Savin. Klim Britaev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Gennadiy Antoshin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Volzhsky booed when Volgograd FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 77 match minutes in a wonderful position. Valentin Tomilchik didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 80th minute Konstantin Elhov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lev Lichkun saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 82nd minute, Artemiy Grishunin left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Volzhsky fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. With a little luck, Volgograd FC's Gennadiy Antoshin got control of the ball when Artemiy Grishunin tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 90 played minutes Volzhsky got a freekick which was hit by Vyacheslav Krivonogov. When Valentin Tomilchik fell near the penalty area in the 95th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Volgograd FC's protests and gave Valentin Tomilchik a yellow card for diving instead. In the 95th minute, Valentin Tomilchik hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.