Baikal-Energia Tops Sayany 7-3 in Russian Cup

Rekord Stadium, IRKUTSK, Russia -- Danila Savchenko scored two goals and added an assist as Baikal-Energia defeated Sayany Abakan 7-3 in the first Group IV game of round 2 of the Russian Bandy Cup.

Yevgeny Tkachuk managed a hat trick for Sayany, with all three goals coming off the rush.

Usually a highly defensive-minded team, Abakan allowed Baikal's first two goals in the first four minutes of play with goals from Savchenko and Andrei Kovalyov. But only two minutes later, Tkachuk added his first to put Sayany on the board. Alexander Nasonov increased the margin to two in the 35th minute, while Maksim Koshelev added the eventual game winner off a corner to increase Irkutsk's lead to 4-1. But just before the whistle to end the half, Tkachuk added his second of the game to cut the lead.

In the second half, Savchenko scored again off a pass from Koshelev in the 62nd minute, and Maksim Khaldin added another insurance goal for Baikal. Dmitry Kropotkin had a chance to get Sayany back into this one when he was awarded a penalty shot in the 83rd minute, but Baikal goalie Alexei Negrun didn't even have to make a play as the shot sailed wide.

In the final three minutes, Tkachuk capped off his hat trick, and Maksin Gavrilenko rounded out the scoring to give Irkutsk the victory and put them at the top of the tables in Group IV.

In other action, SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk and Metallurg Bratsk were involved in a shockingly low-scoring game in the afternoon matchup on Saturday in Irkutsk. Yevgeny Mavrin, Stanislav Izmagilov, and Anatoly Suzdalev each scored for Khabarovsk, while Marat Yumangulov scored Bratsk's only goal as they went down to defeat 3-1.

Group I

Dynamo Moscow easily swept the field, scoring 39 goals while allowing only 10 in their three matches against Rodina Kirov, Vodnik Arkhangelsk and Mayak Krasnoturinsk.

Dynamo will be joined in the quarterfinals by Rodina, who managed to squeeze out a victory against Vodnik 5-4 despite trailing 4-0 early in the first half. Although they played admirably against Dynamo as well, losing by a respectable 9-4, Vodnik could manage only a 5-5 tie against lowly Mayak, as they shared the bottom of the group with only one point each.

Scores:

Rodina 5, Vodnik 4
Dynamo 21, Mayak 1
Rodina 9, Mayak 3
Dynamo 9, Vodnik 4
Vodnik 5, Mayak 5
Dynamo 9, Rodina 5

Other teams advancing to quarterfinals:

Group II - Zorky Krasnogorsk, Uralsky Trubnik Pervouralsk
Group III - Kuzbass Kemerovo, Yenisey Krasnoyarsk