RAMENSKOYE, Russia (Interstat) — Rodina Moscow III defeated Saturn Ramenskoye 2-1 on Friday at Leon Arena, getting an early goal from Igor Andreev and finishing with a two-goal total while Saturn Ramenskoye scored once. The visitors held the lead for long stretches and closed out the match after a second-half goal from Artur Maksimchuk. The result gave Rodina Moscow III its third win of the season in this competition and handed Saturn Ramenskoye its second loss.

Rodina Moscow III opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Andreev found the net. Andreev was credited with a goal while playing 90 minutes. The early goal gave the visitors a lead to protect and forced Saturn Ramenskoye to chase the match from behind. Rodina Moscow III kept its shape through the opening half and went into the break with the advantage. Andreev’s finish remained the difference as the match moved past the hour mark.

Saturn Ramenskoye responded in the 67th minute when Maksimchuk scored. Maksimchuk was credited with a goal while playing 90 minutes. The home side continued to press for more after the goal, but Rodina Moscow III limited the space in front of its defensive block and worked to slow the tempo. Rodina Moscow III finished with two goals to Saturn Ramenskoye’s one, and the visitors did enough in the closing minutes to secure the win at Leon Arena.

The match was decided by small margins and by Rodina Moscow III’s ability to make its early breakthrough stand. Saturn Ramenskoye pushed forward in the second half and created a more active spell after Maksimchuk’s goal, but the home side could not turn that pressure into a second goal. Rodina Moscow III defended with discipline and managed the final minutes without allowing Saturn Ramenskoye to find an equalizer. The visitors’ two-goal total proved enough on a night when the home side scored once. Saturn Ramenskoye kept pressing, but Rodina Moscow III held firm through the final stages. The final whistle confirmed a result built on Andreev’s early finish and Rodina Moscow III’s work to protect the advantage.

Rodina Moscow III’s season record in this competition is now 3 wins and 1 loss. Rodina Moscow III’s season record across all competitions is also 3 wins and 1 loss. Saturn Ramenskoye’s season record in this competition is now 2 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. Saturn Ramenskoye’s season record across all competitions is also 2 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. Both clubs have played closely contested matches in the early part of the season, and the records reflect the narrow results that have shaped their form. The competition record and the overall record are identical for both sides, underlining how their results have aligned so far.

Rodina Moscow III entered the match after a loss to Lipetsk, a win at Penza and a home win over Arsenal Tula II in its previous results this season. Saturn Ramenskoye entered after a home win over Kursk, a loss at Lipetsk, a win at Volna Nizhegorodskaya and a draw at Penza. Those results provided the recent backdrop for the contest, which turned on Andreev’s early goal and Maksimchuk’s second-half finish. Rodina Moscow III had won two of its previous three matches, while Saturn Ramenskoye had won two, lost one and drawn one in its previous four. The match was the latest in a sequence of close results for both teams.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Saturn Ramenskoye 1, Rodina Moscow III 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Saturn Ramenskoye with a 71.6 percent probability to win.