RPL Matchday 20
Fakel Voronezh 3-0 FC Sochi
Saturday 18 March, Central Stadium of Trade Unions, Voronezh
Goals: Fakel – Gongadze (pen 34), Magal (73), Ivakhnov (79)
Sent off: Sochi – Melkadze (81)
Man of the Match: Evgeny Markov (Fakel)
Fakel waited too long or the second win, the first came against Lokomotiv in September, and they finally took it, again at home field, where the team was unbeaten for six straight matches. It was trouble game for Sochi, the visitors spent most time without any attempts. Ibrahim Tsallagov played the ball with arm, and VAR check led to penalty, Georgy Gongadze scored to get sixth goal this season, most in Fakel. Second half was time for debut goals; native Voronezh Ruslan Magal technically put the ball to the far top corner, and young Matvey Ivakhnov caught the lucky bounce in the penalty area. Being down with three goals was not the final problem for Sochi, Georgy Melkadze got two yellow cards in a minute for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Fakel are 14th with 17 points, while Sochi stay ninth on 29 points.
Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 1 April – Dynamo vs Sochi; Sunday 2 April – Fakel vs CSKA