The Interregional Football Union (IFU) celebrated its 25th anniversary season in 2025 with a hard-fought final for its prestigious Cup. The culmination of this notable season saw FC Izhevsk emerge victorious, securing the trophy after a two-legged final against Chuvashia’s FC Bomik. This marks a notable achievement for the Udmurtian capital’s club, adding another chapter to the IFU’s rich history.

FC Bomik, representing Chuvashia, made history by becoming the third team from the region to reach the IFU Cup final. The squad boasted significant experience, with five players having previously lifted the coveted trophy. This included Arkady andreev and Dmitry Dudnikov, who won in 2014 with Chuvashia Sports School, and Roman Shalin, Artem Bychkov, and Mikhail Khozilov, who were part of the Vurnar Chemist squad in 2018 and 2019.This pedigree suggested Bomik would be a formidable opponent, well-versed in the pressures of a cup final.

However, FC Izhevsk, bolstered by their home crowd advantage from the first leg, entered the return fixture with a crucial 1-0 lead. The decisive goal came just four minutes into the initial match in Izhevsk, when Dmitry Michurekov, wearing the number 19 jersey, successfully converted a penalty. Michurekov proved to be the difference-maker once again in the second leg, doubling Izhevsk’s advantage from the penalty spot.

The pivotal moment in the second match occurred in the 14th minute. following a corner kick for the visiting side, the referee spotted a handball within the penalty area of FC Bomik. The decision was clear, and Michurekov stepped up to calmly slot home his second penalty of the final, giving FC Izhevsk a commanding 2-0 lead on aggregate.

With a two-goal cushion, FC Izhevsk adopted a disciplined and compact defensive strategy. This proved highly effective, frustrating the attacking efforts of FC Bomik, managed by the coaching duo of Sergei Ivanov and Sergei Kirsanov. Despite their best efforts,Bomik’s players were unable to break down Izhevsk’s resolute backline,failing to find the net and overturn the deficit.

Following the match, FC Bomik’s head coach, sergei Ivanov, expressed his disappointment but indicated a potential appeal regarding the officiating. “We will apply for an appeal, but this is unlikely to change the score,” Ivanov stated. “But at least they will punish the judge.” While the outcome of the appeal remains to be seen, it highlights the contentious nature of some decisions in high-stakes matches.

Despite the officiating concerns, FC Izhevsk’s head coach, yegor Kozyrev, acknowledged the quality of his opponents. “bomik is a good team,” Kozyrev commented, showing sportsmanship in victory.

The IFU Cup final may be concluded, but the 2025 season is far from over for FC Bomik. The team is scheduled to play two more league matches,with their final game of the season taking place on home soil on October 4th against Nizhny Novgorod SSHOR No. 8. This provides an opportunity for Bomik to end their campaign on a positive note.

Article by Vyacheslav Ilyin