League Play-Off

Stadion Velikiy Novg
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. Andrey Svyatogorov started the match with the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Saransk HC's zone, Leonid Koshev stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Evgeniy Firsov came out of the goal and Leonid Koshev tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A collision led to Velikiy Novgorod HC getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Aleksandr Fryazin hit a great ball. 13 minutes into the match, Saransk HC's Lev Akopyan broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Dmitriy Abramov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Viktor Noskov having to interfere. Viktor Noskov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Andrey Svyatogorov, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. After 20 played minutes Saransk HC got a freekick which was hit by Petr Kastravets. With a little luck, Saransk HC's Evgeniy Firsov got control of the ball when Leonid Koshev tried to sneak it across the goal line. Viktor Noskov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dmitriy Abramov in the 23rd minute of the match. In the 27th minute Andrey Svyatogorov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Viktor Noskov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 31st match minute, Velikiy Novgorod HC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leonid Koshev to maneuver through the defense. When Aleksandr Fryazin fell near the penalty area in the 33rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Velikiy Novgorod HC's protests and gave Aleksandr Fryazin a yellow card for diving instead. 35 minutes into the game, Saransk HC's Andrey Svyatogorov nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Viktor Noskov made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Viktor Noskov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Andrey Svyatogorov in the 39th minute of the match. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Filipp Aguzarov was the one to do the kick off. Leonid Koshev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 51st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evgeniy Firsov having to interfere. After 52 minutes, Silvestr Hristenko mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Saransk HC and the Velikiy Novgorod HC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Silvestr Hristenko hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. Evgeniy Firsov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Filipp Aguzarov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 56th minute, Filipp Aguzarov managed to get in a good position for a shot. Velikiy Novgorod HC's supporters rose to their feet, but Filipp Aguzarov was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Evgeniy Firsov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Andrey Svyatogorov in the 61st minute of play forced Velikiy Novgorod HC's goalkeeper Viktor Noskov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 70th minute Leonid Koshev shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Evgeniy Firsov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Velikiy Novgorod HC's Viktor Noskov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Andrey Svyatogorov in the 71st minute of play. With a little luck, Velikiy Novgorod HC's Viktor Noskov got control of the ball when Dmitriy Abramov tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 74th minute, Andrey Svyatogorov managed to get in a good position for a shot. Saransk HC's supporters rose to their feet, but Andrey Svyatogorov was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Viktor Noskov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Filipp Aguzarov in the 79th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Evgeniy Firsov saved Saransk HC from getting behind. When the match had gone on for 80 minutes, Andrey Svyatogorov took a quick shot and it went in 0-2 without a chance for Viktor Noskov to make any attempt to save it. Leonid Koshev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evgeniy Firsov having to interfere. The supporters of Saransk HC booed when Velikiy Novgorod HC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 90 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aleksandr Fryazin didn't get a good kick on the ball. Viktor Noskov didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Saransk HC's Andrey Svyatogorov shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 0-3 in the ordered_time% minute. Filipp Aguzarov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The Velikiy Novgorod HC supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Saransk HC's performance. The match ended with a win for Saransk HC.