Khimki lose to Khabarovsk in the first relegation play-off leg

Relegation play-off, 1st leg
SKA Khabarovsk 1-0 FC Khimki
Wednesday 25 May, Lenin Stadium

Goal: SKA - Emerson (14)

The play-off between RPL and FNL teams came back three years later and started in Khabarovsk with SKA, finished fourth in the FNL, hosting Khimki, finished 13th in the RPL. There is strong connection between the opponents, as Sergey Yuran started the season with the Armymen and left them in February to join the Red-Blacks for the third time in his career. The connection exists among the players, as Kamran Aliev and Mikhail Tikhonov played for Khimki previously.

Aliev made his effort to overcome former club, his cross from the corner kick found Emerson head with 15 minutes played, and SKA took the lead. Odessa born scored his just second goal this season. The hosts played much active forcing Ilya Lantratov to make couple more saves. The most dangerous attempt by the visitors happened in the second half, when Butta Magomedov shot from the free-kick, and Vladimir Sugrobov saved the ball from the corner. SKA got one-goal advantage before visiting Khimki later this week.

Second leg: Saturday 28 May - Khimki vs SKA Khabarovsk