Metallurg equalized the score in the series with Avtomobilist

To determine the winner in the second match of the first round of the playoffs of the Gagarin Cup, the teams had to play more than 80 minutes. At Metallurg, Nikita Korostelev, Brendan Leipsik and Yegor Yakovlev scored goals.

Metallurg’s squad has undergone minor but important changes. The main goalkeeper this time was announced by Eddie Pasquale. In addition, Nikita Korostelev and Artyom Zemchenok returned to service.

The beginning of the match was left for Avtomobilist. Yekaterinburg residents were active in the guest zone and used every opportunity for shots on target, while Magnitogorsk had to spend almost all the time on the defensive. Gradually, the game began to level off, Metallurg began to add. And at the end of the 14th minute, the guests achieved the result: Nikita Korostelev opened the scoring in the match.

In the second period, the intensity of the struggle increased markedly. Between the players now and then there were skirmishes. In the 29th minute, Brendan Leipsik increased the lead for his team to 2:0. In the 33rd minute, thanks to the efforts of Brooks Maysek, Avtomobilist won back one goal. The teams went to the break with a score of 2:1.

At the start of the third game segment, Metallurg was forced to play in the minority for four minutes in a row, but the hosts could not even the score. When there were several minutes left before the end of the period, Avtomobilist changed the goalkeeper to the sixth outfield one. The coaching move worked – the goal of the same Brooks Maysek returned Ekaterinburgers to the game.

Regular time ended with an equal result on the scoreboard 2:2. The opponents had to determine the winner in extra time.

The first 20-minute overtime was goalless. Ekaterinburgers looked fresher, spent more time in attack. One of the protagonists of the overtime was Metallurg’s goalkeeper Eddie Pasquale, whose game left Magnitogorsk in the game.

The teams went into the second overtime. It was in him that the fate of the match was decided. Metallurg captain Yegor Yakovlev put an end to the game.

The result is 3:2 and an important victory for Metallurg, which equalizes the score in the first round of the playoffs – 1:1. Now the teams have to play two games in Magnitogorsk. The first will take place on the sixth of March, the second on the eighth of March.