Orenburg 2-1 Rostov: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Russian Premier League Matchday 1 · Sunday 26 July 2026 · Stadion Gazovik, Orenburg · referee N. Novikov · full time
Full time: Orenburg 2-1 Rostov
Orenburg beat Rostov 2-1 in Russian Premier League Matchday 1 on Sunday 26 July 2026 at Stadion Gazovik. The goals: Viktor Melekhin 47', Ruslan Kul 84', Andrey Kasadzhikov 90+4'.
How Orenburg won it
Viktor Melekhin put Rostov ahead in the 47th minute, set up by Andrey Langovich. Orenburg levelled at 1-1 in the 84th minute through Ruslan Kul, set up by Andrey Kasadzhikov. Orenburg turned it round: Andrey Kasadzhikov made it 2-1 in the 90th minute (+4). There was no time to answer it.
It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
The lead changed hands once.
Maksim Saveljev of Orenburg was sent off in the 49th minute for a second yellow card. The referee, N. Novikov, showed 8 yellow cards: 2 to Orenburg and 6 to Rostov.
Orenburg: I. Akhmetzyanov, 4-4-2 · Rostov: J. Alba Cabello, 3-4-3.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 0.87 for Orenburg and 1.09 for Rostov.
Orenburg scored about 1.1 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Orenburg had 3 shots on target, Rostov 5.
Rostov had 58% of the ball, but Orenburg took the points.
A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Orenburg came into it with 12 Russian Premier League matches played, scoring 1.2 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 1.41 expected goals for and 1.40 against, and had won 25% of their matches.
Rostov came into it with 12 Russian Premier League matches played, scoring 1.1 and conceding 1.4 a match, with 1.06 expected goals for and 1.18 against, and had won 33% of their matches.
Orenburg vs Rostov: the match in numbers
| Orenburg | Match statistics | Rostov |
|---|---|---|
| 42% | Ball possession | 58% |
| 0.87 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.09 |
| 9 | Total shots | 14 |
| 3 | Shots on target | 5 |
| 3 | Big chances | 0 |
| 290 | Total passes | 408 |
| 60% | Pass accuracy | 72% |
| 3 | Corners | 6 |
| 14 | Fouls | 16 |
| 0 | Offsides | 1 |
| 16 | Tackles | 16 |
| 4 | Saves | 1 |
| 3 | Yellow cards | 6 |
| 1 | Red cards | 0 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Andrey Kasadzhikov (Orenburg), rated 8.1 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal, 1 assist.
Orenburg
- Andrey Kasadzhikov 8.1 1 goal, 1 assist
- Ruslan Kul 7.8 1 goal
- Danila Khotulev 7.1
- Bogdan Ovsyannikov 7.0
- Evgeniy Bolotov 6.9
Rostov
- Viktor Melekhin 7.6 1 goal
- Aleksey Mironov 7.3
- Timur Suleymanov 7.1
- Oumar Sako 7.1
- Ygor Nogueira 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Maksim Saveljev at 5.6. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Orenburg: Orenburg vs CSKA Moskva Sunday 1 November 2026 · Russian Premier League
- Rostov: Dynamo Makhachkala vs Rostov Sunday 1 November 2026 · Russian Premier League
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Orenburg vs Rostov
What was the score in Orenburg vs Rostov?
Orenburg 2-1 Rostov (half-time 0-0), Russian Premier League, Sunday 26 July 2026.
Who scored in Orenburg vs Rostov?
Viktor Melekhin 47', Ruslan Kul 84', Andrey Kasadzhikov 90+4'.
Did Moneyball predict Orenburg vs Rostov correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Orenburg vs Rostov?
Andrey Kasadzhikov, rated 8.1 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Orenburg vs Rostov?
N. Novikov.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.