Baikal-Energia Falls to Sibselmash in Closing Minutes

Sibselmash Stadium, NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia -- Baikal-Energia Irkutsk's losing streak continues as they lost a tough match on the road to Sibselmash Novosibirsk, 2-1.

The loss marked the first time in five years that Baikal has lost to Sibselmash on the road.

Denis Turkov opened the scoring for the home side in the 9th minute off a pass from Sergei Shvyryov, and that would be all the scoring in the first half - at least, the only score that would appear on the scoreboard.

And with Kemerovo referee Igor Tarakanov making the calls, every Baikal fan knew from the outset that this match would be an uphill battle.

Irkutsk dominated play in much the first half, as Sibselmash played a stiff, defense-first style. But as Irkutsk continued to press, Sibselmash was able to get some good chances on the counter attack. Then, in the 29th minute, Sergei Rogulev thought he had evened the score, but the goal was disallowed on an offsides call.

Baikal did not start off the second half well, as head coach Boris Barinov was issued a bench penalty for interfering with the officials - what we in America would call unsportsmanlike conduct. In the 68th minute, things started to look up as Baikal finally got on the board when captain Nikolai Kadakin scored off a corner.

But Irkutsk continued to get caught pinching, and Novosibirsk finally made them pay for it. After a great chance by Dmitry Kolesnikov was stopped by the Irkutsk defense, in the 85th minute Alexei Golitarov scored the game winner when the defensemen were caught completely out of position to make the final 2-1.

The loss is the fourth in five games for Irkutsk, including the Russian Government Cup, and the second in a row in the Russian league. It also drops them out of first place - a position they had held onto all season - into a second-place tie with Yenisei Krasnoyarsk behind Kuzbass Kemerovo.

Russian Bandy Federation president Albert Pomertsev was in attendance, and he made a brief appearance at the post-game press conference to congratulate the home side.

Scores

December 10

Mayak Krasnoturinsk 1:0 SKA-Sverdlovsk Yekaterinburg
Metallurg Bratsk 6:1 SKA-Zabaikalets Chita

December 13

Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk 3:1 SKA-Zabaikalets Chita
Mayak Krasnoturinsk 4:8 Yenisei Krasnoyarsk