League Play-Off

Stadion Volgodonsk
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dimitrovgrad's Maksim Voronov 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Maksim Voronov in the 3rd minute of play forced Volgodonsk FC's goalkeeper Ernest Esipov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 5th match minute, Dimitrovgrad was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Maksim Voronov to maneuver through the defense. 9 minutes into the match, Volgodonsk FC's Kirill Rogulin sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Mark Antonov narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 15th minute, Gennadiy Savin sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Dimitrovgrad's Mark Antonov didn't even have to move. Vasiliy Stepanov kicked well hit freekick during the 16th minute of the match. Ernest Esipov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Maksim Voronov, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. With a little luck, Dimitrovgrad's Mark Antonov got control of the ball when Kirill Rogulin tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 20th minute, Volgodonsk FC's Kirill Rogulin dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. In the 36th minute Emil Nikonov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ernest Esipov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 44 minutes, Kirill Rogulin managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Volgodonsk FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Kirill Rogulin was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The home fans were very happy to see their team 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. Viktor Drobysh was the one to do the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Dimitrovgrad's Maksim Voronov ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ernest Esipov. Ernest Esipov yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Maksim Voronov in the 56th minute of play forced Volgodonsk FC's goalkeeper Ernest Esipov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 61st minute, Viktor Drobysh 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. After some careless play in the Dimitrovgrad defense, Kirill Rogulin kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Mark Antonov. The Dimitrovgrad fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Mark Antonov should have stopped the shot. Mark Antonov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Viktor Drobysh, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. In the 69th minute, Viktor Drobysh left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Volgodonsk FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-1. After 74 minutes Dimitrovgrad's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Gennadiy Savin who took care of the corner kick. Rustam Okonishnikov kicked well hit freekick during the 82nd minute of the match. Mark Antonov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gennadiy Savin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Maksim Voronov in the 90th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ernest Esipov saved Volgodonsk FC from getting behind. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Volgodonsk FC fans cheered their team off the field, for while Dimitrovgrad had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.