Club Friendly· Season 2026
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl came from behind to beat Neftekhimik 4-2 in their Fonbet Blinov Cup opener, with Kirill Yemelyanov leading a three-goal second-period surge.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Neftekhimik struck first on the powerplay at 11:21 of the opening period. Damir Zhafyarov and Evgeny Mityakin set up Artem Serikov, who beat Lokomotiv goaltender Alexei Melnichuk to make it 1-0.
Lokomotiv flipped the game in 99 seconds early in the second period. Kirill Yemelyanov fired home the equaliser at 23:32 with assists from Alexander Yelesin and Maxim Berezkin. Just nine seconds later at 23:41, Egor Surin put the hosts ahead with help from Danil Misyul and Matvei Kotkov. Vadim Dudorov added a third at 36:55, converting a setup from Artyom Kuzin and Andrei Pustovoy to make it 3-1.
Artur Kayumov extended the lead to 4-1 at 48:20 of the third period, with Yemelyanov providing the secondary assist. Neftekhimik replied through Andrei Belozerov at 54:26, assisted by Mityakin, but could not get closer.
The Turning Point
Yemelyanov’s equaliser at 23:32 and Surin’s strike nine seconds later flipped the match entirely. Neftekhimik had controlled the first period through Serikov’s powerplay goal, but Lokomotiv’s 99-second double inside the first four minutes of the middle frame forced the visitors onto their heels. They never regained the lead.
Key Performers
Kirill Yemelyanov (Lokomotiv) — 1 goal, 1 assist. The catalyst for the second-period turnaround, scoring the equaliser and setting up Kayumov’s clincher.
Egor Surin (Lokomotiv) — Scored the go-ahead goal just nine seconds after Yemelyanov’s equaliser. His quick strike deflated Neftekhimik’s momentum.
Artur Kayumov (Lokomotiv) — Netted the decisive 4-1 goal in the third period, effectively putting the game beyond reach.
Artem Serikov (Neftekhimik) — Opened the scoring with a well-placed powerplay goal but his side could not build on the early lead.
Player of the Match: Kirill Yemelyanov
By the Numbers
The provider payload records a 4-2 final scoreline, but the per-period breakdown (0-1, 3-1, 1-1) reveals the real story: Lokomotiv dominated shot quality in the middle frame, while Neftekhimik’s first-period control yielded only one goal before the hosts’ response. The 40-match head-to-head history between these sides (25 Lokomotiv wins, 15 Neftekhimik) has averaged 5.1 goals per game with both teams scoring in 88% of meetings — this match followed that pattern.
What It Means
This was the opening match of the 32nd edition of the Fonbet Blinov Cup, a four-game round-robin pre-season tournament hosted at G-Drive Arena in Omsk. Lokomotiv’s win puts them level on points with the group. Both sides continue their KHL pre-season preparation: Lokomotiv face Severstal next on 27 August at 15:00 MSK, while Neftekhimik take on Sibir on 29 August at 15:00 MSK.
Verdict
A professional response from the reigning Gagarin Cup champions. Falling behind to an early powerplay goal might have unsettled a lesser side, but Lokomotiv’s 99-second double early in the second period showed the composure and depth that carried them to the title last season. Neftekhimik competed well in the first period but could not match the champions’ pace when the intensity rose.
Match Events
Key match events between Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Niznekamsk — 6 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Y. Mityakin
M. Beryozkin
M. Kotkov
A. Pustovoy
Rivalry since 2008
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl vs Niznekamsk Head to Head Results· 40
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Niznekamsk have met 40 times — Lokomotiv Yaroslavl won 25, Niznekamsk won 15, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2008. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl leads the head-to-head with 25 victories from 40 meetings. A combined 203 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.08 per match (118 for the home side, 85 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 35 matches (88%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 36 games (90%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 7–5 in 2011.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 27 Aug 2026