Fakel Voronezh and Krasnodar shared a cup match that stretched beyond regulation time, ending 1:1 after 120 minutes before Fakel claimed victory 5:3 on penalties. The group stage encounter on 1 September 2026 produced something neither side expected, particularly after Krasnodar had won their previous five games in a row. And here's the thing about cup football — the format demands resilience, and Fakel showed it when their legs were tired.
Aleksei Kovalev opened the scoring in the 59th minute before Magomed Ozdoev equalised a minute later. The timing of those goals felt deliberate, as though both managers had made tactical adjustments at the break. Fakel brought on Vitalii Yakimov and Artur Koksharov at half-time, while Krasnodar responded with several changes of their own. By then, the match had settled into a rhythm that neither side could break.
The penalty shootout unfolded with a peculiar rhythm. Fakel converted all five attempts — Bardachev, Paltsev, Vorobyev, Lenini and Todorovic found the net without missing. Krasnodar struggled from the spot, with Diego Costa, Giorgobiani and Magomedov all failing to score. The visitors' goalkeeper kept his side in it for as long as he could, but the pressure told eventually.
Statistically, the match told a different story. Krasnodar held 51 per cent possession and completed 67 per cent of their shots on target, while Fakel managed 49 per cent possession with 46 per cent accuracy. Both sides registered six shots on target, but Krasnodar's precision meant their chances carried more weight. Fakel's three blocked shots suggested they were willing to create obstacles, even if they couldn't convert them.
The result leaves Fakel with something to build on after a difficult run of form. Their previous five matches produced just one win and three draws, with losses to Zenit and Central Army among them. Krasnodar, meanwhile, extended their winning streak to five games before the shootout told a different tale. The cup continues, and both sides will assess what happened when the clock reached 120 minutes.
