MHC Spartak vs Dyn. Moscow

Ilyin's goal at 46:53, just 6:53 into the third period, was the hammer blow. Spartak had weathered Dynamo's early pressure after the restart, but Ilyin's finish restored the lead and forced the hosts to chase the game. Ryabykin's insurance marker late on was academic by then.

• Stepan Dmitriyev (Dyn. Moscow) — A goal in the first minute of the game and an assist on the final goal. His early strike set the tone and his delivery to Ryabykin closed it out. Player of the Match.
• Elisha Ryabykin (Dyn. Moscow) — One goal, one assist. Played a direct hand in both Dynamo third-period goals.
• Dmitry Yenenko (MHC Spartak) — Scored Spartak's only goal, a well-taken equaliser in the second period that briefly gave the hosts a foothold.

The H2H widget on the betmana page shows Spartak leading the all-time series 29-21 from 50 meetings, but the recent trend tells a different story. Dynamo have now won three of the past four pre-season meetings between these MHL sides (4-1 in August 2025, back-to-back 3-2 wins in 2022-23, and this 3-1). Spartak's historical dominance (dating to 2016) has been built largely in regular-season MHL play, while Dynamo have gained ground in pre-season settings.

This was the opening match of Group A at the Spartak Cup. Both teams next play on 27 August: MHC Spartak face Akademiya SKA (19:00 MSK), while Dyn. Moscow have a rest day before returning on 28 August against Akademiya SKA. Spartak entered the tournament on a run of four losses in six warm-up games, including a 2-3 defeat to Krasnaya Armiya on 23 August. Dynamo arrived having won two straight — 3-2 over Sakhalinskiye Akuly and 2-0 over Krylya Sovetov.

Dynamo were sharper in both boxes and more clinical when it mattered. Spartak's equaliser was merited on the balance of second-period play, but the hosts lacked the finishing edge to build on it. Dynamo's third-period double showed a team growing into its pre-season rhythm under new head coach Sergei Voronov.