Volga Ulyanovsk vs Enisey Match Recap - Oct 11, 2025

Khashkulov’s Double Inspires Enisey’s Stunning 4-2 Comeback at Volga Ulyanovsk, Shaking Up the First League Relegation Scrap

At Trud Stadium on a crisp autumn afternoon, Enisey produced their most arresting performance of the season, overturning an early deficit to claim a 4-2 victory over Volga Ulyanovsk—snapping a six-match winless run and vaulting themselves past their hosts in the tightening lower reaches of the Russian First League table.

Enisey, entering the contest in 15th place and desperate for momentum, found their talisman in Astemir Khashkulov, who delivered a brace—his first-half penalty restoring parity before he expertly finished a sweeping counter just after intermission. Luka Ratković sealed the points with a breakaway strike in the dying minutes, transforming what had been a nervy encounter into a statement win for the visiting side.

A Promising Start, Then a Cascade of Setbacks

Volga Ulyanovsk, themselves mired in a three-match winless streak, appeared poised to shake off their recent struggles. Evgeniy Voronin, among Volga’s few consistent bright spots this campaign, found the net on 16 minutes, capitalizing on defensive indecision to ignite the Trud Stadium crowd. Yet, with defensive frailty a season-long theme—Volga have conceded in an alarming 92% of matches—the lead never felt secure.

Enisey’s response was methodical. They began to wrest control of midfield, probing for weaknesses, and just before half-time, pressure told. In the 38th minute, a clumsy challenge inside the area gave Khashkulov the chance to equalize from the spot. He sent the keeper the wrong way to restore balance.

The equalizer seemed to ignite Enisey. Mere minutes later, a flowing move culminated in Andrea Chukanov steering a low drive past Volga’s beleaguered keeper right on the stroke of halftime—a quick double that reversed the match’s momentum.

Khashkulov’s Second Sinks Volga

If halftime brought solace for the home fans, their optimism was quickly dashed. Barely five minutes after the restart, Khashkulov struck again, latching onto a through-ball and finishing with authority to extend Enisey’s advantage to 3-1.

Volga briefly rekindled hope in the 72nd minute, pulling a goal back from close range—a rare spark in a match where creativity so often fell short. But with gaps widening as Volga pressed forward in search of an equalizer, the stage was set for Luka Ratković. As the clock ticked toward full-time, the Enisey forward latched onto a long clearance, outpaced the tiring Volga defense, and slotted past the onrushing keeper to cement an emphatic win.

Context: A Battle of Strugglers, a Table Transformed

The significance of this result stretches well beyond the final whistle. Volga Ulyanovsk—having now conceded nine goals in their last three league outings—slide to 13th with 12 points from 13 matches, their downward drift unbroken and defensive woes starkly exposed. For Enisey, who had managed just one goal in their previous three league fixtures and entered today with the division’s lowest scoring rate, the four-goal eruption is a revelation, lifting them to 14 points and above Volga in the standings.

Statistically, both clubs have endured trying campaigns. Volga’s record at home offers little solace (2 wins from 6), and their average of 1.77 goals conceded per game is among the league’s worst. Enisey, meanwhile, had lost just two of six away matches but struggled for wins, until today’s breakthrough performance.

Head-to-Head: A Fixture Rife with Tension

Recent clashes between these sides have often been tight. They drew in Ulyanovsk last July and played out a goalless stalemate in Krasnoyarsk this past June, with neither side able to assert clear superiority in the rivalry to date. Today, Enisey’s attacking outburst marks a distinct shift in a typically cagey fixture.

What’s Next: Urgency for Both Sides as Relegation Looms

For Volga Ulyanovsk, this defeat raises urgent questions as the season’s midpoint nears. With a porous back line and mounting pressure from below, a response is required to halt their slide toward the relegation zone. Managerial decisions in the coming weeks—whether tactical changes or new personnel—will be closely scrutinized as the club seeks stability.

Enisey, reinvigorated by both result and performance, now have a pathway to climb clear of the drop. If Khashkulov can sustain his form and the defense retain composure, today might mark a turning point in their campaign.

As the First League table compresses at the bottom, every point—every goal—carries weight. On this October afternoon in Ulyanovsk, Enisey seized their moment, sending a clear message in the fight for survival: the battle is far from over, and the margins more slender than ever.