Nizhnevartovsk saw off Energostroy Moscow 3:1 in the Russian Cup on Thursday afternoon. The result lifts the hosts further into contention in the tournament standings. By then they had already shown they could bounce back from recent setbacks.
Nizhnevartovsk sit second in the table with six points from three games. Two wins and a single defeat defines their campaign so far. And here's the thing — they pulled off a stunning save of sorts after losing 1:3 to Kamа just days earlier.
Energostroy Moscow came in with little to play for and even less momentum. They had been hammered 0:3 by CSKA Moscow on their previous outing. To be fair, they refused to go away without a fight, but the effort was not quite enough.
The three-goal margin tells its own story. Nizhnevartovsk took them apart when it mattered, while Energostroy switched off at key moments. The visitors camped in the final third at times, but found no way through.
What does this mean for the league table? Nizhnevartovsk move clear of the chasing pack with a comfortable gap. Energostroy remain out of the top spots and will need a swift turnaround if they hope to climb.