League Play-Off

Stadion Orel
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nikolay Veresovoy took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 2nd minute, Nikifor Bakirov 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. 5 minutes into the game, Nikifor Bakirov recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Georgiy Samsonov. Nikifor Bakirov showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. A collision led to Orel FC getting a freekick after 11 minutes play. Albert Schukin hit a great ball. 13 minutes into the game, Aleksandr Maslov cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Ernest Bobrov was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Orel FC's Nikifor Bakirov got a good chance for a goal in the 17th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Nikolay Veresovoy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ernest Bobrov having to interfere. Georgiy Samsonov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nikifor Bakirov in the 22nd minute of the match. If Nikifor Bakirov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Petr Dinkov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Georgiy Samsonov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 31 minutes, Artur Erasov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Orel FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Artur Erasov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nikifor Bakirov in the 33rd minute of play forced Volzhsky's goalkeeper Georgiy Samsonov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Nikolay Veresovoy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Nikolay Veresovoy blasted a shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ernest Bobrov having to make a save. In the 38thth minute of the game Nikolay Veresovoy who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Orel FC's Ernest Bobrov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After having played for 42 minutes, Aleksandr Maslov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Volzhsky's supporters crossed their fingers, but Aleksandr Maslov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A collision led to Orel FC getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Petr Dinkov hit a great ball. Aleksandr Maslov might have been able to make a better finish in the 45th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ernest Bobrov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Aleksandr Maslov ran back to his position shaking his head. Nikifor Bakirov blasted a shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Georgiy Samsonov having to make a save. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when Nikifor Bakirov made the kick off in the second half. After 56 minutes of play, Volzhsky's Aleksandr Maslov made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ernest Bobrov was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 61st minute, Nikolay Veresovoy hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Orel FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 65th minute, when Nikolay Veresovoy scored to the left of an out of position Ernest Bobrov, making the score, 1-3. If Nikolay Veresovoy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The supporters of Orel FC booed when Volzhsky was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 71 match minutes in a wonderful position. Evlampiy Zhitnikov didn't get a good kick on the ball. 72 minutes into the match, Orel FC's Borislav Starchevskiy broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Georgiy Samsonov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nikifor Bakirov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 75 played minutes Volzhsky got a freekick which was hit by Evlampiy Zhitnikov. Konstantin Vozhdaev hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. In the 83rd minute Nikifor Bakirov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Georgiy Samsonov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 86th match minute, Volzhsky was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Evlampiy Zhitnikov to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nikolay Veresovoy in the 90th minute of play forced Orel FC's goalkeeper Ernest Bobrov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Nikifor Bakirov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Artur Erasov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 95th minute. Georgiy Samsonov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Volzhsky supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Volzhsky would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.