League Play-Off

Nizhnekamsk
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rustam Azimov got the match started through his kick off. After 3 played minutes Novocherkassk FC got a freekick which was hit by Rustam Azimov. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 5th minute of the game. One of Novocherkassk FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Nizhnekamsk HC:s goal. Boris Lepehin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ivan Seitakov having to interfere. 18 minutes into the match, Novocherkassk FC's goal looked a bit too open when Roman Neustroev came free, but Ivan Seitakov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, Novocherkassk FC's Ivan Seitakov got control of the ball when Boris Lepehin tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 24th match minute, Novocherkassk FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leonid Lobanovskiy to maneuver through the defense. Marat Boyarinov could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 32nd minute of the match, but Ivan Seitakov made a huge save. In the 33rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Novocherkassk FC's goalkeeper Ivan Seitakov, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Boris Lepehin came up free with the goalie in the 35th minute, the Nizhnekamsk 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 Boris Lepehin couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 39th minute, Dmitriy Lutsenko managed to get in a good position for a shot. Nizhnekamsk HC's supporters rose to their feet, but Dmitriy Lutsenko was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ivan Seitakov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 40 played minutes Novocherkassk FC got a freekick which was hit by Semen Kondratiev. Nizhnekamsk HC's Roman Neustroev got a good chance for a goal in the 42nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Roman Neustroev stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After having played for 51 minutes, Leonid Lobanovskiy managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Novocherkassk FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Leonid Lobanovskiy was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Leonid Lobanovskiy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Anatoliy Kolivin was a little too slow when Leonid Lobanovskiy got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 71st minute. The score was now 1-1. 89 minutes into the game, Roman Neustroev cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Ivan Seitakov was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. For all the effort they put into the match, the Novocherkassk FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Nizhnekamsk HC.