Nizhny Novgorod beat Shinnik 3-0 on Sunday in the first league regular season, moving further clear at the summit. The hosts ran out comfortable winners at home, with three separate scorers doing the damage. G. Shilnikov opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and the visitors never recovered from that early blow. To be fair, Shinnik had been stubborn in midfield, but Nizhny found space when it mattered.
The visitors went back to their bench at half-time, bringing on N. Kotin for the second period. S. Karic followed soon after in the 53rd minute, and I. Porokhov came on in the 57th as Shinnik tried to change their shape. The hosts were already in control by then, and the substitutions only showed how far behind the visitors had fallen.
A. Sokolov restored the two-goal cushion in the 58th minute, and N. Kalinski added a third just five minutes later. T. Komissarov came on for Nizhny in the 61st minute, and A. Chernyi followed in the 69th. A. Sokolov was then replaced himself in the 71st minute. And here's the thing, the game had been decided before the substitutions even started.
M. Maiga picked up a yellow card in the 79th minute, and another booking came in the final moments at 90+3. Nizhny dominated possession at 56 per cent, registering six shots on target and three off target. Shinnik managed only two shots on target from five attempts off target, and their 44 per cent possession told the story of a side pinned back.
The result extends Nizhny Novgorod's lead at the top of the table to 11 points. They sit on 25 points from 10 matches, with eight wins, one draw and one defeat. Shinnik remain in eighth place on 14 points from nine games, three wins, five draws and one loss. The gap between them is now wider than it was before kick-off.