Kalinsky penalty the difference for Nizhny Novgorod against nine-man Ural

Nizhny Novgorod 1-0 Ural Ekaterinburg
Saturday 26 February, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

Goal: Nizhny Novgorod - Kalinsky 78’ (pen)
Sent off: Ural - Kolesnichenko 55’, Goglichidze 77’
Man of the Match: Ibrokhimhalil Yuldoshev (Nizhny Novgorod)

With both sides heavily involved in the battle to escape relegation, perhaps it was understandable that the opening period back after the winter break was a tight affair. 

Aleksey Gerasimov powered arguably the clearest chance a foot wide to the post from a corner, while Ramazan Gadzhimuradov danced through into the box only to lift a delicate effort just over the crossbar.

Ten minutes after the break, however, Kirill Kolesnichenko was sent off after catching Ibrokhimhalil Yuldoshev with a stray arm, and the momentum shifted. Moments later, Angolan debutant Milson lashed a fierce shot towards goal from the edge of the area, but Ilya Pomazun was equal to it at full stretch.

Within two minutes Dmitry Stotsky came within inches of handing the hosts the lead as his header from Yuldoshev’s cross thumped against the crossbar.

The visitors were left with their backs even further against the wall when former Nizhny Novgorod full-back Leo Goglichidze was sent off for a foul in the area. Nikolay Kalinsky converted the resultant spot kick to lift Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s side out of the relegation zone.

Nizhny Novgorod escape the relegation playoff zone up into 10th on 22 points, while Ural drop to 12th on 19 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 5 March - CSKA Moscow vs Nizhny Novgorod; Monday 7 March - Krasnodar vs Ural