Khabarovsk beat Salavat Yulaev 3:2 in a club friendly match on Thursday 20 August. The visitors held their nerve to claim victory in Ufa, taking all three points from a contest that opened with both sides looking to build momentum ahead of the new season.
Salavat arrived with mixed recent form. They had won four of their last five meetings, including a comfortable 4-1 over Barys on 17 August, but that run ended abruptly with a heavy 3-6 defeat to Lada just two days before this match.
Khabarovsk came in on a different wavelength. Five wins from their last five games, including dominant 5-1 and 5-0 victories over Barys and Lada respectively, suggested a side finding its rhythm at just the right time.
The scoreline told a straightforward story without the usual complications. Three goals to two — nothing more, nothing less. Both teams kept it simple, and the result settled without controversy or drama.
For Salavat, the loss interrupted what had looked like promising preparations. They will need to address the defensive issues that cost them against Lada before returning to competitive action. Khabarovsk, meanwhile, can take confidence from maintaining their winning streak against a familiar opponent.