Yusupov left to rue penalty miss as Khimki hold out for goalless draw

Khimki 0-0 Sochi
Sunday 13 March, Arena Khimki

Man of the Match: Ilya Lantratov (Khimki)

Mateo Cassierra squandered two chances in the opening period - one a free header from about eight yards out - as Khimki showed creditable resistance against their high-flying visitors.

Nikita Burmistrov then struck the foot of the post from at least 25 yards out in the closing minutes before half time, but the clearest chance came just after the hour mark.

Artur Yusupov stepped up from the penalty spot, but his low penalty was brilliantly kept out by Ilya Lantratov’s one-handed dive down to his left. Yusupov sent a shot inches wide moments later, but still Vladimir Fedotov’s men couldn’t quite find a way through.

Midway through the second half Didier Lamkel Ze thought he had slid Khimki in front after a quite sensational run and assist from Reziuan Mirzov. The former Spartak Moscow winger had danced his through half the entire Sochi side before slipping an almost-perfectly weighted pass through - only for the narrowest of offsides to be correctly flagged by VAR.

Khimki remain bottom of the table on 15 points, while Sochi stay fourth on 38 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 19 March - Ural vs Khimki; Sunday 20 March - Sochi vs Krylia Sovetov