Maksimov’s Decisive Strike Lifts Arsenal Tula Past Sokol Saratov to End Home Cup Hoodoo

Amid the autumnal chill that swept through Stadion Arsenal, Arsenal Tula found just enough warmth from a single moment of brilliance to edge past a stubborn FK Sokol Saratov, 1-0, and break free from a home cup drought that had hung over the club like a dense October fog. The Cup tie, tense and untidy at times, was ultimately settled by Maksim Maksimov’s composed finish in the 36th minute—a goal that provided both passage to the next round and a measure of catharsis for an Arsenal side long haunted by near-misses on this stage.

For much of the first half, the match unfolded as a familiar test of nerves for these two clubs less than a fortnight removed from their First League stalemate in Saratov. On that night, each side had traded blows and settled for a point. Tonight, the prize was knockout survival, and the urgency showed from the outset. Arsenal, with a point to prove after four straight years failing to advance beyond the Cup’s fifth round, pressed with purpose, channeling frustration from their string of draws in league play into early, assertive ball movement.

Still, Sokol Saratov—never an easy out in cup competition—dug deep and weathered the opening assault. Their defensive line, marshaled by Alexey Dolya, withstood several Arsenal set pieces, while Timur Kraykov’s alertness in goal kept the hosts at bay through the opening exchanges. The visitors, buoyed by their own run of six straight Cup matches with a goal, threatened mostly on the break, their best chance coming from a swift counter that forced Alexander Melikhov into a sharp save just before the half-hour.

Then, as halftime beckoned, the deadlock broke with the game’s one truly clinical moment. A surging run from Tigran Avanesyan down the left created hesitation in the Sokol backline. Avanesyan cut the ball back to Maksimov, who, with a single deft touch, sidestepped his marker and slotted low past Kraykov. The finish was marked by calm in a contest defined by tension.

Tula’s sideline, so often tense in recent Cup home outings, erupted. For Arsenal, it was their first home goal in the competition after a long run of frustration and a reward, finally, for their attacking intent. The goal also extended their streak to five Cup matches with a goal, a small but vital marker of improvement for Dmitry Gunko’s men.

After the break, Sokol tried to muster a response, but their efforts often sputtered against a disciplined Arsenal midfield. The visitors’ forward line, led by Gleb Baharev, struggled to find time or space as Arsenal tightened the screws. The closest Sokol came to an equalizer was a curling shot from Sergey Gribov in the 68th minute, which Melikhov gathered comfortably. As the minutes dwindled, Sokol’s frustration grew, culminating in a string of late bookings as the match slipped out of reach.

The significance of this result for Arsenal Tula cannot be overstated. Not only does it send them through to the next phase, but it also marks the end of an eight-match home winless run in the Russian Cup—a statistic that has become an albatross around the club’s ambitions. Arsenal’s recent league form has been marred by inconsistency: a pair of high-scoring draws against Torpedo Moskva and UFA sandwiching a disappointing defeat at Neftekhimik, and their last meeting with Sokol had produced only a draw. Tonight’s win, then, is both a psychological boost and a rare demonstration of their capacity to see out slim leads under pressure.

For Sokol Saratov, there is little time for self-pity. While their away form in the league has been poor—they remain the FNL’s worst road side this term—they had ground out results on their travels in this competition, notably seeing off Broke Boys in the previous round. Yet, against higher-caliber opposition, defensive lapses and a lack of cutting edge again proved costly. Sokol’s struggles to progress beyond the Cup’s fifth round now stretch into another season, mirroring last year’s disappointments.

In the context of their ongoing league campaigns, this fixture highlights the fine margins separating mid-table ambition from Cup heartbreak. Arsenal Tula, still searching for consistency as draws continue to punctuate their First League calendar, will hope this result sparks a run—both in knockout play and in the league, where the logjam in mid-table leaves opportunity for climbers. Sokol, meanwhile, face an urgent task: to translate Cup resilience into more reliable league form, where their recent draws and defensive lapses have left them precariously placed.

With the curtain drawn on this regional path encounter, Arsenal Tula take a cautious step forward, no longer haunted by their home Cup ghosts. For Sokol Saratov, the road back begins anew—a reminder that, in Russian football’s long season, redemption and regret often arrive just days apart.