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. Kirill Abdrashitov started the match with the kick off. Dmitriy Abramov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Valentin Savin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Andrey Svyatogorov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Valentin Savin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 16th minute Andrey Svyatogorov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Valentin Savin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Andrey Svyatogorov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 21 minutes into the match, Saransk HC's Dmitriy Abramov sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Valentin Savin narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Valentin Savin made an important save on a dangerous shot by Andrey Svyatogorov in the 22nd minute. Vitaliy Morozov took the ball and in the 24 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Evgeniy Firsov. Evgeniy Firsov dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. A collision led to Saransk HC getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Nikita Skryagin hit a great ball. Kirill Abdrashitov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Evgeniy Firsov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Vitaliy Morozov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Evgeniy Firsov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vitaliy Morozov, who was totally free with the ball in the 40th minute. The supporters of Pervouralsk booed when Saransk HC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ilya Zhukov didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 47th minute, Maksim Evseev managed to get in a good position for a shot. Saransk HC's supporters rose to their feet, but Maksim Evseev was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Valentin Savin breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Andrey Svyatogorov was the one to do the kick off. After 56 played minutes Saransk HC got a freekick which was hit by Pavel Ishkuvatov. Evgeniy Firsov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kirill Abdrashitov, who was totally free with the ball in the 59th minute. Vitaliy Morozov could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 62nd minute of the match, but Evgeniy Firsov made a huge save. Valentin Savin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Andrey Svyatogorov in the 63rd minute of play. Vitaliy Morozov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alfred Stuzhin kicked well hit freekick during the 67th minute of the match. Lev Akopyan scored 1-1 in the 68th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Valentin Savin, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Valentin Savin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dmitriy Abramov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 76 minutes into the game, Saransk HC's Andrey Svyatogorov nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Valentin Savin made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Valentin Savin stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Dmitriy Abramov's shot from short distance in the 82nd minute. Dmitriy Abramov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Valentin Savin having to interfere. 88 minutes into the match, Pervouralsk's goal looked a bit too open when Andrey Svyatogorov came free, but Valentin Savin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.