Metallurg saw off Olympia Savintsi 2:1 in the Round of 64 of the Cup on 23 August 2026. The hosts held firm after going behind, and a last-minute goal from A. Sitalo decided the tie. By then the visitors had already seen their lead evaporate.
Olympia Savintsi took the lead through I. Koshman in the 79th minute, but the visitors had been ahead for only a short while. Metallurg responded with urgency and found their own breakthrough shortly after.
A. Sitalo scored in the 87th minute to put Metallurg in front. The academy graduate marked his late appearance with the decisive goal, and the home crowd sensed a finish to the match. The hosts held on grimly as the minutes ticked away.
Earlier in the half, D. Pochernin had opened the scoring for Metallurg in the 41st minute. That opener had given the hosts confidence, even though the game remained balanced for most of the contest. The second goal shifted the momentum entirely.
Metallurg's recent form had been mixed, with draws against Penuel and Alexandria II among their last outings. Olympia Savintsi, meanwhile, had not played since September 2025, a gap that showed in their urgency. The visitors threw bodies in the way but could not hold the lead.
The result sends Metallurg through to the next round of the Cup. A victory of this kind matters more than statistics — three or four moments decided everything, and the rest was background noise.
