Ural Ekaterinburg 2-1 FC Tambov
Sunday 28 June, Ekaterinburg Arena

Goals: Ural - Bicfalvi (pen 20’, 70’); Tambov - Kostyukov (68’)

Man of the Match: Erik Bicfalvi

Sent off: Bicfalvi (83’)

Erik Bicfalvi was once again the spark for Ural Ekaterinburg as the Romanian struck twice - once from the penalty spot, then finishing a beautiful move on the volley - before being sent off late on. Mikhail Kostyukov’s diving header had drawn Tambov level half way through the second period.

A long ball over the top towards Andrey Egorychev was handled by Anton Kilin after 20 minutes. After a pitchside VAR review confirmed the penalty, Ural top goalscorer Erik Bicfalvi stepped up to calmly stroke home. 

Around the midway point of the second half, Aleksey Rybin’s right-wing cross was met with a perfectly-timed diving header from Mikhail Kostyukov that snuck inside Yaroslav Godzyur’s near post.

They’d barely had time to enjoy being level when a wonderfully orchestrated move put Ural back in front. El Kabir chipped a delicate cross to Bicfalvi, who chested the ball to Yuri Bavin. Without the ball touching the ground, Bavin controlled the ball before returning the ball to Bicfalvi to smash a scissor volley through Giorgi Shelia’s legs.

Bicfalvi was booked twice in quick succession in the last 10 minutes to leave the hosts down to 10 men, but they held firm to win their first home game since last August.

Ural Ekaterinburg are due to travel to take on FC Orenburg next on Wednesday 1 July, while FC Tambov host Zenit St. Petersburg later that evening.

Ural Ekaterinburg: Godzyur, Kulakov, Wilusz, Gerasimov, Zolotov, Boumal (Augustinyak 63’), Egorychev (Panyukov 63’), Kucharczyk, Bavin, El Kabir, Bicfalvi

FC Tambov: Shelia, Oyewole (Yurganov 87’), Gritsaenko, Filin, Kilin, Karasev (Mamtov 87’), Ciuperca, Rybin (Kaplienko 82’), Kostyukov (Fedchuk 76’), Melkadze, Obukhov