Ryazan edged past Spartak Tambov 4-3 on penalties in the third round of the Cup's Regions Path after a 1-1 draw in extra time on 25 August 2026. The visitors took the lead in the 48th minute through E. Evgenjev's penalty, before A. Maloletov equalised for the hosts just six minutes earlier in the 42nd. And here's the thing — the match was decided the old-fashioned way, with nerves fraying through seven rounds.
The shootout stretched to 120+7 before it ended. Evgenjev and Kuptsov traded opening spot-kicks, then Glukhov and Khabibov separated the teams when the home side missed. By then, the pattern was clear: Spartak Tambov's takers were unsteady while Ryazan kept their nerve. Shmarov and M. Sergeev both found the woodwork or the keeper, but Barkov finished it in the seventh round.
Spartak Tambov's recent form has been mixed. They drew 1-1 with Rostov-12 and beat Kristall MEZ 1-0, but losses to Salute Belgorod and Dynamo Bryansk suggest inconsistency. To be fair, they did manage a 2-1 win over Metallurg Lipetsk last August. Ryazan's run is harder to read — a 2-0 victory against Kvant followed by a 0-3 defeat to Salute Belgorod and another heavy loss to Luky-Energiya.
The result keeps Ryazan alive in the competition while Spartak Tambov's Cup dream ends at the third round. Seven missed penalties across both sides tells you this was not a clean affair, but the away end never stopped. The visitors worked a short corner of sorts here — grinding out a result when they needed to.
There were no substitutions or dismissals to note. The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with the shootout providing all the drama. Spartak Tambov will have to wait for another chance, while Ryazan move on to face whoever comes next in the draw.