Nizhny Novgorod vs FC UFA

FC UFA struck first. In the 10th minute, midfielder D. Lipovoy found the net with a normal goal — no assist recorded — to put the side from Bashkortostan ahead. Nizhny Novgorod responded 12 minutes later when G. Popolitov equalised in the 22nd minute, sending the sides into the break level at 1-1.

The second half was a tighter affair. Nizhny Novgorod introduced Vyacheslav Grulev from the bench in the 56th minute, replacing forward Renaldo Cephas. The breakthrough finally came in the 86th minute when S. Lapinskiy scored what proved to be the winner, completing the turnaround in the final stages.

Nizhny Novgorod's growing control after the interval — and the introduction of Grulev — shifted momentum their way. UFA, who had been compact after the equaliser, were unable to hold out in the closing minutes as Lapinskiy struck from inside the box.

• S. Lapinskiy (Nizhny Novgorod): Scored the 86th-minute winner and proved decisive in a tight contest.
• G. Popolitov (Nizhny Novgorod): Dragged his side level in the 22nd minute with a sharp finish, setting the platform for the second-half fightback.
• Vyacheslav Grulev (Nizhny Novgorod): Entered as a 56th-minute substitute and made a notable impact, earning a strong post-match rating (8.9 per bookmaker-ratings.ru).
• D. Lipovoy (FC UFA): Opened the scoring with a well-taken goal inside 10 minutes but UFA could not protect the lead.

The provider payload records three goals from a combined three shots on target — two for Nizhny Novgorod, one for UFA — reflecting efficient finishing rather than dominance. The 1-1 half-time scoreline gave way to a tighter second period, with Nizhny Novgorod's deeper squad rotation providing the decisive edge in the final quarter.

The result is a positive marker for Nizhny Novgorod as they build towards the 2026/27 Russian Premier Liga season under Vadim Garanin. For Omari Tetradze's FC UFA, the defeat extends a challenging pre-season run — the club competes in Russia's second-tier FNL and is using friendlies to integrate new personnel ahead of the new campaign.

A routine pre-season turnaround. Nizhny Novgorod showed resilience after conceding early, while UFA will be frustrated at failing to hold a first-half lead. Lapinskiy's late winner was the only moment that separated two sides still building match sharpness.