JOHVI, Estonia (Interstat) — Viktor Kudriashov scored in the 74th minute and Narva U21 made that single goal stand for a 1-0 victory over Johvi Phoenix on Sunday in a football match that remained tight until the closing stages.

Narva U21, the visiting side, found the decisive moment after more than an hour of play had passed. Kudriashov’s goal broke a scoreless match and gave the visitors the only lead they needed. Johvi Phoenix, playing at home, could not answer before the final whistle, and the hosts finished the day without a goal. The result left the home side still searching for its first win in the competition, while Narva U21 took the maximum available from its opening contest.

Kudriashov was the game’s central figure, finishing with one goal while playing the full match. His 74th-minute strike was the only entry on the scoresheet, and it proved enough to separate the teams. Narva U21’s defensive work after taking the lead helped protect the advantage through the remaining minutes, including the late stretch when Johvi Phoenix pushed forward in an attempt to find an equalizer. The visitors managed the final phase without conceding, and the final whistle confirmed a narrow road win.

For Johvi Phoenix, the defeat was defined by the missing final touch. The home team stayed within reach for most of the match, but the one-goal deficit proved too much to erase. A scoreless first half gave way to a second half in which the game’s only goal arrived in the 74th minute. Johvi Phoenix could not produce a response over the final 16 minutes of regulation, and Narva U21 left with the win. The home side’s record in the competition is now no wins and one loss, and its record across all competitions is also no wins and one loss.

Narva U21’s competition record now stands at one win and no losses. The same mark applies across all competitions. The victory gives the visiting team an early positive result to build on, while Johvi Phoenix must regroup after a close home defeat. Because the match was decided by a single goal, the outcome turned on the one moment of finishing that Narva U21 produced and Johvi Phoenix could not match. The visitors did not need a second goal, as their one-goal advantage held to the end.

The match unfolded with the sort of narrow margins that often define games settled by a lone strike. Neither side was able to break through before the interval, and the contest remained level deep into the second half. When Kudriashov scored in the 74th minute, Narva U21 changed the shape of the game and forced Johvi Phoenix to chase. The home team increased its urgency, but the equalizer never came. Narva U21’s players protected the lead, and the final minutes passed without the hosts finding the net.

Kudriashov’s contribution was the most significant of the game. He played from start to finish and scored the only goal, a combination that directly decided the result. His goal came at a stage when the match had yet to produce a breakthrough, and it gave Narva U21 the advantage it needed. Johvi Phoenix had no corresponding scorer, and the absence of a response left the home side with a frustrating result. The visitors’ clean sheet, meanwhile, ensured that the one goal was sufficient.

The result also shapes the early standings in the competition. Narva U21 begins with one win and no losses, while Johvi Phoenix begins with no wins and one loss. Across all competitions, those records remain the same for both clubs. For Narva U21, the win provides immediate momentum. For Johvi Phoenix, the loss leaves the team looking for its first positive result. The match will be remembered for Kudriashov’s second-half goal and for the visitors’ ability to make that lead last.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Johvi Phoenix 1, Narva U21 0. Interstat’s ELO system had given Johvi Phoenix an 86.7 percent probability to win.