Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Rodina Moskva 1st with 51 points, Avangard Kursk 6th with 26, 25 apart. The last five rounds placed Rodina Moskva no better than 15th for form, against 1st in the standings. In league terms the two rates read 1.35/1.35 for Avangard Kursk and 2.9/0.8 for Rodina Moskva (scored/conceded per game); the competition average is 1.44.
Momentum sat with Rodina Moskva, winners of their last eight, having scored in 15 consecutive games.
Stadion Trudovye Reservy in Kursk, capacity 11,329, hosted the game. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 1-1 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 3-2.