League Play-Off

Stadion Podolsk
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Konstantin Miheev kicked off to start the match. Konstantin Miheev recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Vitaliy Stepanischev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Maksim Fomin in the 9th minute of play. Velikie Luki were furious when Roman Levinson was red carded, 11 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. 1-0 came in the 13th minute when Vitaliy Cherkudinov all by himself managed to get straight through the defense and place the ball into the net to the right of Stanislav Lazarev. Maksim Fomin scored 1-1 in the 18th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Vitaliy Stepanischev, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Timofey Vnukov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stanislav Lazarev having to interfere. In the 31st minute Maksim Fomin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vitaliy Stepanischev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 34 minutes into the match, Podolsk HC's goal looked a bit too open when Maksim Fomin came free, but Vitaliy Stepanischev reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Timofey Vnukov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stanislav Lazarev having to interfere. Maksim Fomin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 40th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 42 minutes into the match, Podolsk HC's goal looked a bit too open when Vikentiy Rusakov came free, but Vitaliy Stepanischev reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Vitaliy Stepanischev showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Maksim Fomin, who was totally free with the ball in the 45th minute. Vitaliy Stepanischev showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Maksim Fomin, who was totally free with the ball in the 46th minute. If Maksim Fomin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Pavel Zheltov to make the kick off. Maksim Fomin came free with the goalkeeper in the 56th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Vitaliy Stepanischev could save by the left post. Vitaliy Stepanischev was out of position in the 56 minute of play, and Maksim Fomin capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Maksim Fomin really showed his touch with that goal: 1-2. Roman Sitnikov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Nikita Efimov fell near the penalty area in the 61st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Velikie Luki's protests and gave Nikita Efimov a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Velikie Luki's Nikita Efimov got a free kick in the 61st minute. Maksim Fomin who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 68thth minute tested the skills of Vitaliy Stepanischev when he managed to save the team from getting behind. After some fancy dribbling in the 70th minute, Maksim Fomin managed to get in a good position for a shot. Velikie Luki's supporters rose to their feet, but Maksim Fomin was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Vitaliy Stepanischev breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Konstantin Miheev kicked well hit freekick during the 72nd minute of the match. Vitaliy Cherkudinov missed a clear chance of a goal when in the 74 minute of the game fired away a shot, but unfortunally the ball went out to the Stanislav Lazarev right hand side. Oleg Suhanov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Podolsk HC getting a freekick after 82 minutes play. Gleb Alekseev hit a great ball. Maksim Fomins short, quick shot in the 83rdth minute got Vitaliy Stepanischev to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. With a little luck, Podolsk HC's Vitaliy Stepanischev got control of the ball when Maksim Fomin tried to sneak it across the goal line. Podolsk HC's Vitaliy Stepanischev proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 86th minute of the match, managed to save Podolsk HC from getting a goal against them. When Rustam Kusurov came up free with the goalie in the 88th minute, the Podolsk HC 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 Rustam Kusurov couldn't finish the play. Stanislav Lazarev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Timofey Vnukov in the 94th minute of play. If Maksim Fomin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Velikie Luki eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.