League

Stadion Nizhnekamsk
Spectators: 6041 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1941, VIP seats: 100) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Stanislav Markov started the match with the kick off. When Semen Berkunov fell near the penalty area in the 2nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Saratov HC's protests and gave Semen Berkunov a yellow card for diving instead. After 3 played minutes Saratov HC got a freekick which was hit by Semen Berkunov. Lev Alferov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Roman Naumkin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Leonid Irdebenev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Roman Arshavin hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. Leonid Irdebenev showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Roman Naumkin, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. 16 minutes into the match, Nizhnekamsk's goal looked a bit too open when Semen Berkunov came free, but Semen Burlyay reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Valeriy Aripov's late challenge caught a Saratov HC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Valeriy Aripov helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Nizhnekamsk getting a freekick after 19 minutes play. Grigoriy Kononov hit a great ball. Semen Burlyay took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Andrey Novikov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Grigoriy Kononov during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 25th minute, Gleb Anikeichik 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. Stanislav Markov who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 29thth minute tested the skills of Leonid Irdebenev when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Leonid Irdebenev was a little too slow when Roman Naumkin got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 32nd minute. The score was now 1-1. In the 37th minute Roman Naumkin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leonid Irdebenev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 39th minute, Anatoliy Blokhin 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. In the 40th match minute, Saratov HC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dmitriy Dyadin to maneuver through the defense. Leonid Irdebenev came out of the goal in the 41st minute to try and stop a shot by Nizhnekamsk's Roman Naumkin. But to his dismay, Roman Naumkin quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. If Roman Naumkin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Roman Arshavin kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. After having played for 47 minutes, Lev Alferov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Nizhnekamsk's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lev Alferov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Andrey Novikov was the one to do the kick off. Semen Berkunov was shown his second yellow card after 52 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 53rd minute, Semen Berkunov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 57 played minutes Nizhnekamsk got a freekick which was hit by Stanislav Markov. Dmitriy Urazov took the ball and in the 61 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Semen Burlyay. Semen Burlyay dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-2. Roman Arshavin struck a weak shot in the 64th minute. Semen Burlyay didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Saratov HC. Valeriy Aripov was shown his second yellow card after 67 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Gleb Anikeichik, 69 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Roman Naumkin took the ball and in the 74 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Leonid Irdebenev. Leonid Irdebenev dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-2. Roman Naumkin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Leonid Irdebenev having to interfere. After having played for 79 minutes, Stanislav Markov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Nizhnekamsk's supporters crossed their fingers, but Stanislav Markov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 85th minute, Roman Arshavin left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Saratov HC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-3. In the 88th minute Stanislav Markov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leonid Irdebenev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Roman Naumkin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Saratov HC players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Nizhnekamsk from taking control. The game ends in a draw.