FC Sochi 5-1 FC Orenburg

Wednesday 11 March, Fisht Stadium

Goals: Ayupov OG (24’), Kokorin (pen 34’, 62’), Mostovoy (73’), Noboa (79’); Fameyeh (84’)

Man of the Match: Christian Noboa

Aleksandr Kokorin struck twice to haul FC Sochi out of the relegation zone for the first time since October and score his third goal in three games since moving to the club. FC Orenburg had little response as Timur Ayupov’s own goal, Andrey Mostovoy and Christian Noboa completed the 5-0 scoreline.

It was the visitors who threatened first with a glorious chance after just seven minutes. Noboa deflected a right-wing cross into Joel Fameyeh’s path but the Ghanaian inexplicably scuffed his effort wide.

Midway through the first period Ivan Miladinovic whipped in a harmless looking cross. Timur Ayupov flung himself at the ball but headed into his own net when under little obvious pressure.

Ten minutes later Kokorin stepped up to convert from the penalty spot after Anton Zabolotniy had been bundled over by Sergey Terekhov. He doubled his personal tally for the night just after the hour mark by slotting into the bottom corner from Noboa’s hooked long ball into the right channel.

FC Orenburg did briefly threaten at the start of the second half with the score still at 2-0. A desperate goalmouth scramble saw Mikhail Sivakov and Filip Rogic have stabs at goal from close range but somehow FC Sochi hacked it clear.

Just before Kokorin had made it 3-0 Noboa hooked a long ball out wide to the right channel towards Mostovoy. The winger cut inside and curled a low left-footed shot inches wide of the far post.

Mostovoy made no mistake after 73 minutes when he latched onto Miladinovic’s long ball down the right wing. He had more time and space than Kokorin, but the finish was similarly accurate.

Noboa then switched from creator to scorer soon after. A corner from the right was helped on by Ivan Novosetlsev’s header and the Ecuadorian was left with a simple task to nod home from three yards out.

FC Orenburg grabbed a slither of consolation with six minutes remaining when Malykh’s cross found Mamadou Sylla. Although his shot was blocked, Fameyeh was on hand to smash in the rebound.

FC Sochi have another home fixture up next when FC Krasnodar visit on Sunday 15 March, while FC Orenburg host Spartak Moscow the day before.

FC Sochi: Dzhanaev, Margasov, Miladinovic, Mevlja, Novoseltsev, Zaika (Nabiullin 76’), Tsallagov (Lagator 72’), Noboa, Mostovoy, Kokorin, Zabolotniy (Karapetyan (80’)

FC Orenburg: Klimovich, Malykh, Ayupov, Radakovic, Sivakov (Zotov 65’), Terekhov, Miskic, Rogic (Chukanov 76’), Fameyeh, Alves (Sylla 64’), Despotovic