"Sochi Football Club Secures RPL Entry Following Contentious Match Against Pari NN"
FC Sochi Secures Place in Russian Premier League for 2025/2026 Season
In a thrilling turn of events, Football Club "Sochi" has secured a coveted spot in the 2025/2026 Russian Premier League following a hard-fought victory over Pari Nizhny Novgorod in the playoff matches.
The southerners proved their mettle, winning the return leg 3-1 at their home ground, Sochi Arena. The decisive goal was scored by Kirill Zaika in the 21st minute, while Martin Kramaric added two more—a penalty and a fine finish in added time. Juan Boselli scored a consolation goal for Pari NN from a penalty in the 84th minute.
The first match, held in Nizhny Novgorod, ended in a narrow 2-1 victory for Pari NN. However, Sochi's aggregate result favored them despite missing out on automatic promotion, with the top two spots going to Torpedo Moscow and Baltika Kaliningrad.
Interestingly, Sochi's promotion coincides with the city's 100th anniversary, marking the centennial celebration of Sochi's designation as a resort town.
FC "Sochi" concluded the 2024/2025 season in fifth place in the First League, earning 57 points. Pari NN, in contrast, finished 13th in the Russian Premier League with 27 points. Notably, Novorossiysk "Chernomorets," who would have been Sochi's original competitors, did not receive a license to play in the Premier League, opening up an opportunity for Sochi.
However, the exact circumstances leading to Sochi's promotion are somewhat unclear, as the playoff results did not definitively show that they had won. Some sources suggest that licensing issues with another club may have played a role, but this has not been confirmed.
As they prepare for the upcoming season, fans of FC Sochi will eagerly anticipate their return to the top division of Russian football.
Despite the initial 2-1 defeat in the first match, FC Sochi showcased resilience and emerged victorious in the playoff return leg against Pari Nizhny Novgorod, securing a place in the 2025/2026 Russian Premier League. In the thrilling 3-1 win at Sochi Arena, the team's early goal by Kirill Zaika, followed by Martin Kramaric's two late strikes, led to their triumph in sports, specifically football.
