Arsenal Tula 2-1 FC Tambov
Saturday 11 July, Arsenal Stadium

Goals: Arsenal - Panteleev (pen 20’), Lutsenko (84’); Tambov - Kostyukov (56’)

Man of the Match: Evgeny Lutsenko (Arsenal)

Evgeny Lutsenko was on hand to tap in a late winner for Arsenal Tula after Mikhail Kostyukov had cancelled out Vladislav Pantaleev’s first-half penalty. Georgi Melkadze hit the post late on but Lutsenko’s sixth goal in seven games was the difference.

Igor Gorbatenko slid the ball through to Lutsenko, who cut the ball back only to see it handled by Adessoye Oyewole. Panteleev stepped up to the spot to confidently slot home into Giorgi Shelia’s bottom corner.

After the break Gorbatenko and Melkadze both had dangerous chances for their respective sides before Valeriu Ciuperca set up Kostyukov with a clever cutback.

With time running down, Sergey Tkachev raced down the left channel to meet a long ball forward. Somehow he managed to thread a cross through the six yard box to find an off-balance Lutsenko, who patiently steered it home.

Arsenal Tula are away to Ural Ekaterinburg next on Wednesday 15 July, while FC Tambov host FC Sochi on Thursday 16 July.

Arsenal Tula: Shamov, Denisov (Tkachev 61’), Belyaev, Dovbnya, Khlusevich, Kostadinov (Khagush 86’), E. Kangwa (Lomovitsky 61’), K. Kangwa, Panteleev (Sokol 90’), Gorbatenko (Gromyko 86’), Lutsenko

FC Tambov: Shelia, Yurganov, Oyewole (Takazov 81’), Filin, Rybin, Tetrashvili (Karasev 46’), Ciuperca, Kaplienko (Shlyakov 81’), Kostyukov, Melkadze, Mamtov (Kilin 68’)