League Play-Off

Saransk
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. Timofey Vinogradov started the match with the kick off. A collision led to Saransk getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Matvey Popazov hit a great ball. In the 11thth minute of the game Timofey Vinogradov who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Saransk's Elisey Smirnov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The audience was convinced that Rustam Artemov's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Artem Krivonogov was relentless in the 17th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rustam Artemov in the 19th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Artem Krivonogov prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Lipetsk FC's Artem Krivonogov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rustam Artemov in the 21st minute of play. In the 25th minute, Timofey Vinogradov 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. Stanislav Luppian received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Elisey Smirnov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Saransk's Elisey Smirnov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Stanislav Luppian in the 29th minute of play. Evgeniy Zubanov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Artem Krivonogov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 44 minutes into the match, Saransk's goal looked a bit too open when Stanislav Luppian came free, but Elisey Smirnov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Stanislav Luppian sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Rustam Artemov was the one to do the kick off. Timofey Vinogradov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 60 minutes, Evgeniy Zubanov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Saransk's supporters crossed their fingers, but Evgeniy Zubanov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 63 minutes into the match, Lipetsk FC's goal looked a bit too open when Rustam Artemov came free, but Artem Krivonogov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some careless play in the Lipetsk FC defense, Rustam Artemov kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Artem Krivonogov. The Lipetsk FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Artem Krivonogov should have stopped the shot. Stanislav Luppian received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Elisey Smirnov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 75th minute of the match Denis Shubarev sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Artem Krivonogov skillfully saved the ball. 76 minutes into the match, Evgeniy Zubanov notched a goal, 2-0, to the right of Lipetsk FC's Artem Krivonogov. Artem Krivonogov was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Rustam Strizhev kicked well hit freekick during the 81st minute of the match. In the 85th minute, Stanislav Luppian 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. The supporters of Lipetsk FC booed when Saransk was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 86 match minutes in a wonderful position. German Bartini didn't get a good kick on the ball. Timofey Vinogradov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Elisey Smirnov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 90th minute, Rustam Strizhev had to leave the field with a concussion. 90 minutes into the game, Stanislav Kovalev was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Lipetsk FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Saransk the free kick. After a rather tough play, Lipetsk FC's Stanislav Kovalev got a free kick in the 91st minute. Artem Krivonogov came out of the goal in the 93rd minute to try and stop a shot by Saransk's Evgeniy Zubanov. But to his dismay, Evgeniy Zubanov quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-0. Saransk's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.