Almetyevsk secured a 4-3 victory over Tambov in the VHL on Monday evening. The away side took all three points in what proved to be a closely contested affair between two teams still finding their rhythm at the start of the campaign.
Tambov had come into this fixture following a 4-2 win against CSK VVS, but their recent form has been mixed. They had previously lost 3-5 to Buran Voronezh, though they also registered wins against Dizel on two occasions earlier in the season.
Almetyevsk arrived with momentum on their side. They had beaten Buran Voronezh 2-1 in their most recent outing and followed up with a 3-2 victory over Bars. Those two wins put them in a stronger position than their opponents, if only marginally.
The result sees both clubs remain level on points in the table. Tambov sit ninth with one win from two games, while Almetyevsk occupy sixth place with two victories. Neither side has accumulated any points yet, which is to be expected so early in the season.
What this match tells us is that both teams will need to sharpen up. Three goals conceded against a side with two wins already suggests Tambov's defence needs work. Almetyevsk showed they can finish matches, but conceding three goals in the process is hardly ideal.