Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Rostov 2nd with 96 points, Zvezda Irkutsk 19th with 29, 67 apart. Rostov had been under-performing their position — 8th on five-round form against 2nd in the table. Per game in the league, Zvezda Irkutsk were scoring 0.86 and conceding 2.26, Rostov 1.83 and 0.67, against a competition average of 1.25 goals per team per game.
Rostov entered with four wins in a row, having scored in 9 consecutive games. Over the last five, Zvezda Irkutsk had taken 3 of 15 points to Rostov's 13.
On the scoreboard, Rostov led 2-0 at the break; 4 second-half goals set the final 1-5.