Battle Of Nerves

As compared to the game against Krylya Sovetov last weekend, the Railwaymen's lineup saw three changes. With the disqualification served, Lassana Diarra was back in the squad. Further upfield, Magomed Ozdoyev and Maicon were handed starters' slots.

The hosts wanted to look more aggressive in front of their fans. Amkar had the ball but couldn't really convert it into something tangible as Lokomotiv's back-four played flawlessly. Only in the 10th minute did Georgiev play a long ball into the box where it shook a post meeting nobody on its way.

A couple of minutes later the Railwaymen responded with a chain of good attacks. Ozdoyev made a perfect pass to N'Doye who rounded Narubin but Georgiev managed to block it.

In the 19th minute Lass Diarra earned a free kick, Aleksandr Samedov came up to play the ball. The hallmark cross came straight to Durica who headed to row Z.

Shortly after that, Maicon ran from the centre of the pitch upwards in a move which attracted defenders. N'Doye was left all alone, the Brazilian saw it and crossed to the Senegalese but Wawrzyniak handplayed and was issued a yellow card.

Soon the Pole made a mistake that the Railwaymen must have used to their advantage. Tackled by Ozdoyev, he made a poor pass to the keeper Narubin, and Magomed lacked just a bit to be first on the ball.

Five minutes before the break Lokomotiv again approached the hosts' goal. Ozdoyev received the ball in the box, worked it and rolled to Vitaliy Denisov. The left fullback crossed to Shishkin, the cap passed further to Maicon who took a shot but the ball went wide.

After the half-time the hosts set up one of their few attacks: Kolomeytsev received the ball at the arc and went for glory but was inaccurate.

In the 61st minute Boussoufa came in replacing Ozdoyev. Just a moment later Sheshukov won the ball from an opponent and passed to the Moroccan. Mbark didn't reach the ball but earned a corner. Samedov made a great cross from the flag to Maicon who managed a perfect strike past the keeper but Nikitin cleared from the very goal line.

Soon Aleksandr Samedov came up with a DIY opportunity. The midfielder picked the ball near the box, worked it and rifled a left-footer which made Narubin try hard to parry it.

In the 77th minute Leonid Kuchuk refreshed attacking potential, installing Tkachyov and Pavlyuchenko. The former had a good chance to score a winner when Boussoufa earned a free-kick within the fire range from the goal. The midfielder took a good and powerful shot which went wide.

The tie brought both teams a point which allowed Lokomotiv improve their leadership.

Amkar - Lokomotiv 0:0

Amkar: Narubin, Sirakov, Belorukov, Wawrzyniak, Gol, Nikitin, Peev (Jakubko, 61), Georgiev, Kolomeytsev, Ogude, Kanunnikov (Twumasi, 77).

Lokomotiv: Abayev, Corluka, Durica, Denisov, Shishkin, Sheshukov, Samedov, Ozdoyev (Boussoufa, 61), Diarra, Maicon (Tkachyov, 77), N'Doye (Pavlyuchenko, 77).

Yellow cards: Wawrzyniak, 22. Ogude, 75. Sheshukov, 90. Belorukov, 90.

March 16. Perm. Zvezda Stadium.