League

Tsarskoe Selo
Spectators: 7524 (Terracing: 5644, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 150) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ivan Kascheev started the match with the kick off. Kazan FC's Dmitriy Lobanovskiy proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 7th minute of the match, managed to save Kazan FC from getting a goal against them. The Arkoper fans' excitement grew in the 9th match minute when Arkoper's Gleb Nazarov looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 13th minute David Simonyan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Irakliy Nikiforov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 15th minute David Simonyan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Irakliy Nikiforov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Kazan FC's David Simonyan got a good chance for a goal in the 20th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Kazan FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Roman Abalkin in the 24th minute. In the 25th minute Yuvenaliy Konovalov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Irakliy Nikiforov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Gleb Nazarov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Irakliy Nikiforov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Yuvenaliy Konovalov in the 34th minute of play. In the 36th minute, Yuvenaliy Konovalov left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Kazan FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. In the 39th minute, Gleb Nazarov sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Kazan FC's Dmitriy Lobanovskiy didn't even have to move. In the 41st minute, Ivan Kascheev 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 46th minute David Simonyan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Irakliy Nikiforov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 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 players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. David Simonyan was the one to do the kick off. In the 57th minute the ball was on its way in behind Arkoper's goalkeeper Irakliy Nikiforov, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 58th minute, Arkoper's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Yuvenaliy Konovalov fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. A collision led to Arkoper getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Klim Dzhigit hit a great ball. Kazan FC's Yuvenaliy Konovalov got a good chance for a goal in the 64th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Yuvenaliy Konovalov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ivan Kascheev recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Gleb Nazarov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Arkoper's zone, Vsevolod Guretskiy stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Irakliy Nikiforov came out of the goal and Vsevolod Guretskiy tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Kazan FC's Yuvenaliy Konovalov got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Denis Belyaev during the 86th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Denis Belyaev kicked well hit freekick during the 87th minute of the match. The corner led Kazan FC's Roman Abalkin to fire away a dangerous shot which Irakliy Nikiforov despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Yuvenaliy Konovalov received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Irakliy Nikiforov came out and tried to block the shot, but Yuvenaliy Konovalov slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 91st minute. If Gleb Nazarov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Kazan FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Kazan FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.