Battling Until Last Minute

Lokomotiv and Arsenal drew the match during Gameweek 9 of the Russian Premier League.

Lokomotiv fielded a reshuffled lineup against Arsenal. The number one spot was taken by Ilya Abaev. Nemanja Pejcinovic came on as defensive winger with Manuel Fernandes and Dmitriy Barinov in defensive midfield. Besides, Ezekiel Henty and Igor Portnyagin took to the pitch together.

Unfortunately, on 37 minutes Igor picked up an injury and was carried off, replaced by Ignatiev. Before that, Portnyagin twice came close. Once he found himself face to face with the keeper but failed to beat him. In the other situation the striker missed narrowly trying to finish a cross from Samedov.

A great chance to open the score presented itself to Henty, yet Arsenal shot-stopper Levashov won the duel with our forward. As for Arsenal, they capitalized on the very first opportunity, when Forbes latched on to a lobbed ball from the corner.

After the restart, Syomin substituted Henty for Kolomeytsev then brought on Skuletic for Ignatiev. Lokomotiv bombarded the away goal for all of the second half. At the 66th minute Kolomeytsev bundled in an equalizer, but the referee ruled it offside. Within the space of minutes, the crossbar denied Samedov, while the team from Tula ran to a counter and shattered our post.

The matters were settled in the 91 minute when Corluka penetrated the box and earned a penalty, which was converted by Samedov. Alexander could even have put Lokomotiv up in the last attack, however, his close-range shot sailed high.

ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Championship. Gameweek 9

Lokomotiv - Arsenal - 1:1 (0:1)
Goals scored: Forbes, 45 (0:1). Samedov, 91 (penalty) (1:1)

Lokomotiv: Abaev, Pejcinovic, Corluka, Mykhalyk, V.Denisov, Barinov, Fernandes, Samedov, Henty (Kolomeytsev, 46), Miranchuk, Portnyagin (Ignatiev, 37 (Skuletic, 57))
Arsenal: Levashov, Belyaev, Vergara, Gorbatyuk, Tesak, Forbes, Frimpong (Ryzhkov, 46 (Mukhametshin, 64)), Vlasov, Steklov, Berkhamov, Burmistrov (Appayev, 88)
Bookings: Barinov, 67. Tesak, 72. Gorbatyuk, 91
Referee: Vladimir Seldyakov (Balashikha)
1 October 2016. Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium