League Play-Off

Stadion Murom
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Stanislav Repin kicked off to start the match. Murom's Oles Bizhev got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 13th minute, Evgeniy Galibin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Stanislav Fedotov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vyacheslav Shirkunov having to interfere. If Stanislav Fedotov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when Oles Bizhev got free with Arseniy Kosterin in the 20th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Albert Girenko received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Arseniy Kosterin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Arseniy Kosterin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Albert Girenko, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Vyacheslav Shirkunov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stanislav Fedotov, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. Veniamin Simutenkov hit a great freekick 30 minutes into the match. When Oleg Melko fell near the penalty area in the 32nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Murom's protests and gave Oleg Melko a yellow card for diving instead. In the 32nd match minute, Murom was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Oleg Melko to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 33 minutes, Stanislav Fedotov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Oktyabrsky HC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Stanislav Fedotov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Vyacheslav Shirkunov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Stanislav Repin in the 38th minute of the match. Oles Bizhev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arseniy Kosterin having to interfere. Arseniy Kosterin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Albert Girenko in the 50th minute of the match. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Albert Girenko was the one to do the kick off. 55 minutes into the game, Evgeniy Galibin was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Oktyabrsky HC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Murom the free kick. Evgeniy Galibin hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. If Oles Bizhev had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Oktyabrsky HC's Kirill Timofeev got a free kick in the 61st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Oles Bizhev in the 63rd minute of play forced Oktyabrsky HC's goalkeeper Arseniy Kosterin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 64 minutes into the game, Murom's Albert Girenko nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Arseniy Kosterin made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-0. Stanislav Repin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Oktyabrsky HC getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Maksim Kirdyapin hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, Murom's Oleg Melko got a free kick in the 81st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Oles Bizhev in the 88th minute of play forced Oktyabrsky HC's goalkeeper Arseniy Kosterin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Stanislav Repin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 97th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Stanislav Repin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 99th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Murom's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.