Rodina took control of the FNL table—at least for a day. After losing to Rotor, they quickly got back on track, first beating Ufa and now Chernomorets. Head coach Juan Diaz has stabilized his lineup, rotating only one position in recent rounds: the inside forward. The Spaniard chooses between Abdusalamov and Bakaev. Against Chernomorets, Magomedkhabib started on the right wing.
The match in Novorossiysk was essentially decided in the first 20 minutes. The hosts’ defense was too careless, and they paid the price. First, after a simple header from Egorychev, the Chernomorets defenders inexplicably missed the ball in unison. Maksimenko gratefully accepted the gift, scoring his 15th goal of the season. Soon after, Reina orchestrated an attack through the center, passing left. Dyatlov delivered a cross, Shrepa misjudged his exit, and Timoshenko simply needed to redirect the ball—2-0.
After the break, both teams traded blows. Reina scored for the visitors, cementing his status as perhaps the best player in the FNL this spring. The 32-year-old Peruvian now has 16 goal contributions. The confident victory allowed Rodina to leapfrog Fakel—for a day. But more importantly, Diaz’s team now needs just two points from their remaining two games (home against Chelyabinsk and away to Arsenal) to secure promotion to the Premier League.
**Chernomorets 1 – 3 Rodina**
Meanwhile, Fakel, having squandered their lead over competitors this spring, had no room for error. A slip-up would have knocked them off the top. Voronezh needed to end their four-match winless streak at home against Yenisey. Under Sergei Tashuev, Krasnoyarsk had transformed into a formidable opponent, defeating seven adversaries since the season resumed. Experts wondered if Okladnikov’s scoring spree would continue—the 26-year-old striker was in blistering form with six goals in five games.
Coach Vasilenko trusted the attacking duo of Turishchev and Gnapi. Pusi started on the bench, and Giorgobiani also missed the starting XI, as the attacking midfielder has experienced a dip in form this spring. After a solid first half, Fakel gradually increased their pressure. Netfullin shot over from a good position. Pusi missed the near post. Then, Simonov’s left-footed volley from 20 meters was headed into the far corner, but Shamov made a brilliant save to deny a potential masterpiece.
Vasilenko’s substitutions paid off. Giorgobiani won the ball in the opponents’ half and, while falling, passed to Todorovich. The 28-year-old Bosnian executed perfectly, cutting in from the right edge of the box, dribbling past two defenders, and firing into the far corner. In the third minute of stoppage time, Uridia beat two opponents on the left flank and crossed from the byline. Pusi, breaking free from Tses, scored from close range—his 16th goal of the season, making him the top scorer. The only downer for Fakel was Giorgobiani’s red card for two yellow cards, sidelining him for the home match against SKA-Khabarovsk. Fakel needs just one point from that game to officially secure a spot in the RPL.
**Fakel 2 – 0 Yenisey**
In another key match, Ural, winners of four of their last five, hosted Shinnik. Coach Vasily Berezutsky was without suspended players Selikhov and Zheleznov. The result was a crushing disappointment for the home side.
**Ural 0 – 1 Shinnik**
Ural dominated possession but failed to convert chances. Shinnik capitalized on a rare counterattack, scoring the only goal of the match. This defeat leaves Ural in a precarious position, now two points behind Rodina and four behind Fakel. With only two games remaining, Ural faces a tough battle to avoid the promotion playoffs. Their opponents in the final rounds are both formidable, raising the possibility of a critical slip at the worst possible time. The path to direct promotion now requires both luck and a perfect finish.
Key takeaways: Rodina and Fakel are in the driver’s seat for automatic promotion, while Ural’s hopes are fading. The next round will be decisive.
