Heartbreak for 10-man Tambov as Giogobiani’s late winner steals all three points for Ufa

FC Ufa 2-1 FC Tambov
Sunday 21 June, Neftyanik Stadium

Goals: Fomin (pen) 20’, Giorgobiani 90+2’; Kostyukov 77’

Man of the Match: Mikhail Kostyukov (FC Tambov)

Sent off: Tetrashvili 36’

Nikolay Giorgobiani pounced in added time to rescue a 2-1 win for FC Ufa after Mikhail Kostyukov’s opportunistic lob had threatened to share the spoils for 10-man FC Tambov. Daniil Fomin’s penalty had given FC Ufa a comfortable lead before Guram Tetrashvili was sent off 10 minutes before half time for a verbal offence.

Oston Urunov’s driving run half the length of the pitch to feed Aleksandr Sukhov out wide was about the only threatening attack inside the opening 10 minutes, and even that led to an overhit cross aimed at Vyacheslav Krotov.

Urunov was again the spark after 12 minutes when his wonderful body feint sold Aleksey Gritsaenko and earned him space to cross to Krotov, but it was the latter who earned the breakthrough moments later. After a lengthy VAR delay, a penalty was awarded for Bojan Jokic’s slide on Krotov, with Daniil Fomin converting from the spot confidently.

Fomin was dragged down halfway through the opening period by Gritsaenko just outside the penalty area. He stepped up himself to whip a firm effort dipping just under the crossbar, but Giorgi Shelia flew across to tip it over.

Tempers had flared between Krotov and Guram Tetrashvili a few minutes before the latter was sent off for speaking back to the referee after the two players had clashed again. Shelia was forced to save from Urunov and Carp while Ionut Nedelcearu powered a close header wide, all before the break.

In the first half’s closing seconds Lovro Bizjak struck the post when unmarked around the penalty spot.

After the break, out of nowhere, a dinked ball over the top from Valeriu Ciuperca was met by the outstretched foot of Mikhail Kostyukov. Aleksandr Belenov was suddenly caught out of position, and the ball looped over the experienced keeper for an unlikely equaliser.

Sukhov had a golden chance to snatch back all three points for the hosts with just over five minutes remaining. Unfortunately, his volley from Jokic’s deep cross was blazed well over from eight yards out. 

There was even time for some desperate scrambled defending by Tambov in the last minute, but in added time Giorgobiani - who had only come off the bench five minutes earlier - leapt highest to head home.

FC Ufa travel to Moscow to take on Spartak on Saturday 27 June, while FC Tambov are also on the road on Sunday 28 June as they face Ural Ekaterinburg.

FC Ufa: Belenov, Nedelcearu, Nikitin, Tabidze, Sukhov (Terentyev 86’), Fomin, Carp (Giorgobiani 86’), Jokic, Krotov (Aliev 67’), Urunov (Golubev 90’), Bizjak (Kozlov 67’)

FC Tambov: Shelia, Oyewole, Gritsaenko, Filin (Yurganov 74’), Rybin, Ciuperca, Tetrashvili, Karasev (Fedchuk 74’), Shlyakov (Kaplienko 46’), Kostyukov (Mamtov 82’), Obukhov (Kabakhidze 56’)