League

Stadion Novokuznetsk
Spectators: 9226 (Terracing: 6921, Seating: 2122, VIP seats: 183) Grigoriy Stepanenko started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. After 7 played minutes Novokuznetsk got a freekick which was hit by Roman Kovtun. 8 minutes into the match, ROTOR's Rostislav Levinzon broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. In the 9th minute, Anton Rozenbaum hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 18th minute Novokuznetsk were awarded a corner. Veniamin Elyutin went to the cornerflag to take it. The audience thought a goal was coming when Grigoriy Stepanenko got free with Andrey Izotov in the 22nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Antonis Anastasiadis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Juninho Pernambucano, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Juninho Pernambucano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Juninho Pernambucano in the 31st minute of play forced Novokuznetsk's goalkeeper Antonis Anastasiadis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 36th minute Felice Gianfrancesco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Antonis Anastasiadis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 37 minutes, Juninho Pernambucano managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. ROTOR's supporters crossed their fingers, but Juninho Pernambucano was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Grigoriy Stepanenko had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of ROTOR booed when Novokuznetsk was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 42 match minutes in a wonderful position. Semen Nazarov didn't get a good kick on the ball. The supporters of Novokuznetsk booed when ROTOR was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 48 match minutes in a wonderful position. Roman Larionov didn't get a good kick on the ball.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Juninho Pernambucano to make the kick off. Feoktist Golov scored 1-0 in the 54th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Andrey Izotov, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 57th minute of the match Timur Denisov sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Antonis Anastasiadis skillfully saved the ball. If Silantiy Astankov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 59th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Juninho Pernambucano in the 63rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Antonis Anastasiadis prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 65 minutes into the match, Feoktist Golov notched a goal, 2-0, to the right of ROTOR's Andrey Izotov. Andrey Izotov was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Antonis Anastasiadis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Juninho Pernambucano, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. ROTOR's Andrey Izotov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Silantiy Astankov in the 71st minute of play. ROTOR's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Rostislav Levinzon in the 74th minute. The corner led ROTOR's Rostislav Levinzon to fire away a dangerous shot which Antonis Anastasiadis despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After 76 minutes of play, Novokuznetsk's Silantiy Astankov made it 3-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Andrey Izotov was left in no man's land by his defense there! Novokuznetsk's Emmanuil Getmanets was substituted for Andrey Borzenkov. ROTOR's Juninho Pernambucano got a good chance for a goal in the 80th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Silantiy Astankov in the 82nd minute of play forced ROTOR's goalkeeper Andrey Izotov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Novokuznetsk's Antonis Anastasiadis got control of the ball when Juninho Pernambucano tried to sneak it across the goal line. Juninho Pernambucano could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 87th minute of the match, but Antonis Anastasiadis made a huge save. Andrey Izotov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Silantiy Astankov in the 88th minute of the match. Silantiy Astankov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Aleksey Legasov hit a great freekick 96 minutes into the match. Andrey Izotov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Silantiy Astankov in the 99th minute of the match. Novokuznetsk's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.