Goals from Andrey Panyukov and Artem Yusupov laid the platform for Ural Ekaterinburg’s 2-1 win over Cypriot second-tier side Karmiotissa on Thursday. It was their first win of the winter since the opening fixture of the training schedule against Rakow.

FC Ural were in control from the start, and although they had to wait almost half an hour to break the deadlock, they created plenty of opportunities. Chengiz Magomadov, for example, miscontrolled a deep corner when unmarked early on.

In the end, the opening goal was a scrappy one. Panyukov’s clever flick had run away from him, but the almost comical deflection from the defence’s attempted clearance gave a him a second bite. Karmiotissa’s goalkeeper could quite keep out his firm volley.

Aleksey Mamin had to deal with a barrage of crosses into the box towards the end of the first half without being seriously tested. After an hour the local side’s consolation goal came via a near-post header from a short free kick.

Before that, however, FC Ural had already extended their lead. Seven minutes after the break, Yusupov’s delicate touch outwitted the goalkeeper to leave him with an open goal to smash in the decisive second goal.

Mamin finished by far the busier of the two keepers. With little time remaining he pulled off the save of the match by holding a close-range header on the line.

FC Ural’s next scheduled action comes in the form of the FNL Cup group stage, where they take on Fakel Voronezh next Friday.

FC Ural 2-1 Karmiotissa
5 February, Paphos, Cyprus
Goals: Panyukov 28’, Yusupov 53’

Ural: Al. Mamin, Ar. Mamin, Galimov, Magomadov (Makovskiy65’), Shcherbakov, Augustinyak (Golubtsev 57’), Bavin (Krotov 57’), Shabolin, Panyukov, Yusupov, Trialist