Sochi secured a 2:1 victory over Torpedo Moscow in the First League's fifth round, played on 8 August. The result moves the visitors level on points with their hosts at 19 each, though Sochi sit one place higher in third. Torpedo's unbeaten run in five had ended with a 0:1 defeat to Arsenal Tula just days earlier. Sochi's own form had been mixed, including a 1:2 loss to Leningradets on their last outing.
A. Osipov opened the scoring for Sochi in the 26th minute, giving the visitors an early lead. Torpedo responded through S. Borodin, who pulled one back on the stroke of half-time in the 45th minute plus three. The hosts thought they had levelled, but R. Magal's strike in the 76th minute restored Sochi's advantage and proved decisive.
The match was marked by discipline issues on both sides. Torpedo accumulated three yellow cards, with I. Kalinin, D. Tsypchenko and A. Kashtanov all booked. Sochi's tally reached five, including M. Camara and A. Soldatenkov. By then the game had settled into a pattern where both sides traded possession without creating many clear chances.
Torpedo controlled 58% of the ball and registered 10 shots, only five of which were on target. Sochi managed just 42% possession but made their opportunities count, converting two of five shots on target. The hosts had three corners to Sochi's four, while the visitors also earned eight goal kicks compared to Torpedo's six.
Substitutions began in the second half, with M. Camara coming off for Torpedo in the 60th minute. Z. Fedorov joined Sochi's attack in the 64th, while I. Berkovsky was introduced for the hosts at the hour mark. The final quarter saw six changes, including K. Zaika and A. Pogosov for Sochi, and I. Kalinin for Torpedo.
The result leaves both sides level on points, with Sochi holding third place and Torpedo fourth. The hosts had won six of their nine games, while Sochi's record stood at six wins from ten. This was their second meeting this season, following a 3:0 victory for Torpedo on 3 July.