Tuesday, December 05, 2006

SKA-Neftyanik Snaps Baikal-Energia's Win Streak

Neftyanik Stadium, KHABAROVSK, Russia -- Baikal-Energia suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday, falling on the road to SKA-Neftyanik Khabarovsk 9-3.

Baikal-Energia had been dominating Neftyanik of late, winning five of their last six meetings, including a win in Khabarovsk in February 2005. The loss dropped Baikal's record to 5-1, still good enough for a share of first place in the East Division with Kuzbass Kemerovo.

The match did not open well for Irkutsk, as Khabarovsk had all the scoring it would need early on. By the 14th minute, Baikal was staring at a 4-0 deficit after goals from Yevgeny Mavrin, Dmitry Popov, Yevgeny Stebletsov and Yevgeny Shvetsov. But Irkutsk started to mount a comeback of sorts. Alexander Nasonov, Sergei Rogulyov and Sergei Yusupov all scored in the opening period, and after Mavrin added his second of four goals in this game, the lead was cut to 5-3, Khabarovsk.

But that was all the scoring Baikal could muster, and in quick succession in the early minutes of the second half, Anatoly Suzdalev and Popov scored to widen the lead for Neftyanik.

Frustration started to mount late in the game as Baikal's Maxim Eisbrunner was called for a penalty in the 71st minute. Mavrin added another goal on the man advantage and then capped off the scoring with a penalty shot that got past Irkutsk goalie Alexei Saveliev.

Baikal will have a week to rest, but their road trip continues as they take on Sibselmash Novosibirsk December 13th.

No comments: