Rostov 1-2 Nizhny Novgorod
Saturday 2 April, Rostov Arena

Goals: Rostov - Schetinin 25’; Nizhny Novgorod - Ennin 7’, Stotsky 45+1’
Man of the Match: Richlord Ennin (Nizhny Novgorod)

Richlord Ennin wasted no time lighting up the Rostov Arena with a stunning solo finish just seven minutes in. Kirill Kravtsov’s ball into the left channel left Ennin facing teenage centre-back Viktor Melekhin and Russian international Maksim Osipenko, but the Canadian kept his cool, twisting his opponents inside out, before a superb placed shot from a tight angle through Sergey Pesyakov’s legs and grazing inside the near post.

Kirill Schetinin became the second player in the match to bag his first RPL goal with a simple side-foot finish from Dmitry Poloz’s cutback after 25 minutes.

Ennin struck again on the stroke of half time, this time turning provider. Cutting back onto his right foot, he showed good awareness to spot Dmitry Stotsky completely unmarked on the far side of the penalty area, curling an inswinging cross for the former Krasnodar defender to smash an emphatic volley past Pesyakov.

Rostov stay 12th on 22 points, while Nizhny Novgorod go ninth on 27 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Wednesday 6 April - Rostov vs Krylia Sovetov; Saturday 9 April - Nizhny Novgorod vs Dynamo; Sunday 10 April - Rostov vs Lokomotiv