League Play-Off

Kurgan
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. Ernest Romantsev started the match with the kick off. When Rostislav Mitrofanov came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the Kurgan FC 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 Rostislav Mitrofanov couldn't finish the play. The Kurgan FC fans' excitement grew in the 7th match minute when Kurgan FC's Ivan Pashkin looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Aleksey Dmitriev took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ernest Romantsev, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Vadim Babanin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ivan Pashkin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Iskander Strelkov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With an all-out effort, Kurgan FC's Iskander Strelkov threw himself towards the right post 16 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Ivan Pashkin, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Aleksandr Marinin hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. Kurgan FC's Aleksey Dmitriev played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ernest Romantsev in the 20th minute of play. If Vadim Babanin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Aleksey Dmitriev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Viktor Hrebtov in the 27th minute of play. Ivan Pashkin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Iskander Strelkov having to interfere. Vadim Babanin's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Iskander Strelkov read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 43rd minute of play. Aleksandr Marinin kicked well hit freekick during the 44th minute of the match. When Ernest Romantsev came up free with the goalie in the 47th minute, the Velikie Luki 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 Ernest Romantsev couldn't finish the play. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The wind increased when Ivan Pashkin made the kick off in the second half. The supporters of Velikie Luki booed when Kurgan FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Albert Sharapov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Iskander Strelkov stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ivan Pashkin's shot from short distance in the 62nd minute. Igor Bolotov's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Aleksey Dmitriev firmly grabbed it by the left post. Igor Bolotov scored 2-2 in the 65th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Aleksey Dmitriev, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 74th minute, Rostislav Mitrofanov 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. Ivan Pashkin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Kurgan FC's Vadim Babanin got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Velikie Luki's zone, Rostislav Mitrofanov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Iskander Strelkov came out of the goal and Rostislav Mitrofanov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ivan Pashkin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Iskander Strelkov having to interfere. Iskander Strelkov didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Rostislav Mitrofanov went, in the 91st minute, to the upper right corner, 3-2 was the resulting score. Igor Bolotov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kurgan FC walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.