Match Report
59 points separated the sides: Kuban Kholding 2nd on 77, Inter Cherkessk 15th on 18. Inter Cherkessk ranked just 59th in the league on five-round form despite their 15th table position. Against a league average of 1.47 goals per team per game, Inter Cherkessk ran at 0.88 scored and 2.78 conceded, Kuban Kholding at 1.97 and 0.75.
10 games without a win framed Inter Cherkessk's arrival. Kuban Kholding came in having won four on the spin, having scored in 12 consecutive games. Recent form was uneven: 3/15 points for Inter Cherkessk, 13/15 for Kuban Kholding.
The venue was Yessentuki Arena in Yessentuki, with room for 2,000 spectators. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 0-1.