Rodina 3-3 Akron: Maksimenko hat-trick, but visitors snatch late draw (full highlights)

Rodina Moscow and Akron Tolyatti played out a six-goal thriller at the Arena Khimki in the Russian Premier League's 4th round, with Artem Maksimenko's hat-trick ultimately not enough for the hosts as Kevin Arevalo snatched a dramatic 3-3 draw in the 86th minute. Maksimenko opened the scoring in the 13th minute after a clever pass from Iker Pozo, and doubled the lead deep into first-half stoppage time, sending Rodina into the break with a comfortable cushion. The second half, however, was a completely different story as Akron emerged with renewed energy and pulled one back through Stefan Loncar in the 51st minute, finishing off Roberto Fernandez's delivery. The visitors then levelled matters in the 70th minute when Gilson Benchimol converted from Dudu's assist, setting up a tense final 20 minutes. Rodina showed remarkable character to respond immediately, with Maksimenko completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute after a neat combination with Artur Garibyan, putting the hosts back in front and himself at the top of the scoring charts. But just as the home fans began to celebrate a deserved victory, Kevin Arevalo struck from distance in the 86th minute to earn Akron a point in a pulsating encounter. The result leaves Rodina in 5th place with 7 points, while Akron climb to 10th with 4 points, and both teams will take heart from a match that showcased attacking football at its finest. The full match highlights and all goals are available to watch, capturing the drama of a game that swung one way then the other in breathtaking fashion.