League Play-Off

Perm
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Perm's Vyacheslav Kurgannikov 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. Perm's Evgeniy Dolgov got a good chance for a goal in the 5th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Vyacheslav Kurgannikov struck a weak shot in the 14th minute. Artem Larin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Perm. A collision led to Norilsk HC getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Gerasim Vishnyakov hit a great ball. When Gerasim Vishnyakov fell near the penalty area in the 17th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Norilsk HC's protests and gave Gerasim Vishnyakov a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Perm booed when Norilsk HC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gerasim Vishnyakov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Artem Larin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vyacheslav Kurgannikov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 22 minutes, Vyacheslav Kurgannikov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Perm's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vyacheslav Kurgannikov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Evgeniy Dolgov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Artem Larin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vyacheslav Kurgannikov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 36 minutes into the match, Evgeniy Dolgov had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Artem Larin. Norilsk HC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Evgeniy Dolgov was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Evgeniy Dolgov got free with Artem Larin in the 39th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Vyacheslav Kurgannikov in the 43rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Artem Larin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Vyacheslav Kurgannikov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Artem Larin having to interfere. 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 1-0.

After 51 minutes, Silantiy Maslov mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Perm and the Norilsk HC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After some fancy dribbling in the 53rd minute, Gerasim Vishnyakov managed to get in a good position for a shot. Norilsk HC's supporters rose to their feet, but Gerasim Vishnyakov was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Semen Kvil breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Vyacheslav Kurgannikov recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 60th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Artem Larin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vyacheslav Kurgannikov in the 62nd minute of the match. Evgeniy Dolgov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Artem Larin read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 64th minute of play. In the 69th minute there was a penalty for Perm. Vsevolod Zatevakhin stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Artem Larin. 2-0. In the 75thth minute of the game Evgeniy Dolgov who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Norilsk HC's Artem Larin was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Vyacheslav Kurgannikov in the 77th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Artem Larin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Vyacheslav Kurgannikov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Artem Larin having to interfere. Perm's Yaroslav Ogorodnikov took a good shot, in the 92nd minute, which hit the crossbar above Artem Larin's head, and flew over the goal. Norilsk HC's manager was very thankful on the sidelines as his team had managed to keep the ball out of the net after some serious pressure by Perm. Artem Larin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vyacheslav Kurgannikov in the 93rd minute of the match. In the 95th minute, Evgeniy Dolgov 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Evgeniy Dolgov in the 97th minute of play forced Norilsk HC's goalkeeper Artem Larin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When the referee ended the match the Perm players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.