Krylia Sovetov Samara 1-1 FC Orenburg

Goals: Popovic (41’); Alves (89’)

Sent off: Srdjan Mijailovic (22')

Man of the Match: Evgeniy Frolov

Ricardo Alves’ 89th-minute screamer stole a point for FC Orenburg against 10-man Krylia Sovetov Samara to reopen the Russian Premier Liga on Friday. Srdjan Mijailovic had been sent off after 22 minutes via VAR for clattering into Mohamed Sylla, only for former FC Orenburg keeper Evgeniy Frolov to save Djordje Despotovic’s resulting penalty.

Despite Mijailovic’s early dismissal, it was Krylia Sovetov who took the lead shortly before half time. Dejan Radonjic was causing problems with his physicality - his flick-on header from a long ball drifted narrowly wide of the post after half an hour.

Another successful aerial challenge from Dmitriy Kabutov’s inswinging right-wing cross sent the ball looping towards goal. Aleksandr Dovbnya mistimed his rush out to challenge Radonjic, leaving another former FC Orenburg alumnus, Denis Popovic, to pounce from all of one yard out.

Ten minutes after the break Radonjic had a golden chance to double the hosts’ lead with a one-on-one chance but couldn’t squeeze the ball on target. With just over 20 minutes to go, FC Orenburg almost had three chances in the space of a few seconds to equalise.

Alves cut inside two markers after the hour mark and smashed a spectacular effort against the crossbar. Although he was offside, Joel Fameyeh flung himself at the rebound with a diving header that was headed out, only for Maksim Karpov to clear another goal-bound header off the line.

FC Orenburg poured forward as Danijel Miskic shot inches wide from distance with 10 minutes left, before Frolov palmed Fameyeh's near-post header away with six minutes later. Moments later Fameyeh again saw a goalbound header cleared.

This time however Alves was lurking in space, and after taking a touch to compose himself the Portuguese winger bent a delightful shot inside the far post.

Krylia Sovetov Samara travel to take on Rubin Kazan next on Sunday 8 March, while FC Orenburg - who also have an extra fixture midweek against FC Sochi on Wednesday 11 March - host Arsenal Tula the day before.

Krylia Sovetov Samara: Frolov, Chernov, Karpov, Zeffane, Anton (Gatskan 79'), Kabutov, Mijailovic, Popovic (Lystsov 90'), Timofeev, Zinkovskiy (Glushenkov 83'), Radonjic

FC Orenburg: Dovbnya, Malykh, Sivakov, Radakovic, Terekhov, Kuat (Chukanov 66'), Ayupov, Miskic, Alves, Despotovic, Sylla (Fameyeh 66')