Lokomotiv End Unbeaten Run

Lokomotiv lost to Spartak during Gameweek 26 of the Russian Football Championship.

The two teams approached the Saturday derby on the back of some interesting figures. Lokomotiv’s current unbeaten run stretched to five matches. Spartak had not registered a victory in the last four weeks, while their head-to-head record versus Lokomotiv showed seven winless fixtures.

Spartak goal was threatened as early as two minutes into the game, when Denisov’s cross almost caught Pesyakov off guard. The away side retaliated with a series of half-baked efforts, easily saved by Guilherme. In the middle of the half Marinato was forced into action for real as Promes suddenly broke through on goal. But our keeper timely narrowed the angles and then cleared at the far post. Lokomotiv’s one-on-one chance came a few moves later. However, Putsko’s slide from behind on Skuletic in the penalty area was left unpunished by the ref.

A minute to the break, the Red-Whites took the lead. Durica scored an own goal trying to intercept a through ball from the wing.

In the second half the Railwaymen shifted up the gears and spurned a load of chances, but Lady Luck wasn’t on our side this time. There was a long-range attempt from Pejcinovic that just missed the far corner. Skuletic won an aerial battle in the penalty box, but his shot bounced past the post. The final onslaught didn’t produce result either. Spartak, on the other hand, capitalized on a counter in added time, which ended in a goal by Ze Luis.

In the next gameweek the Railwaymen will travel to Rostov.

ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Football Championship. Gameweek 26

Lokomotiv - Spartak - 0:2 (0:1)
Goals scored: Durica, 44 (own goal) (0:1). Ze Luis, 93 (0:2)

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Denisov, Durica, Corluka, Pejcinovic, Ndinga (Miranchuk, 58), Tarasov, Kasaev (Zhemaletdinov, 76), Samedov, Kolomeytsev (Henty, 85), Skuletic
Spartak: Pesyakov, Makeev, Brizgalov, Kutepov, Putsko, Glushakov, Popov (Zotov, 74), Ananidze (Zuyev, 86), Romulo, Ze Luis, Promes
Bookings: Ndinga, 41. Popov, 48. Promes, 66. Brizgalov, 69. Pesyakov, 76. Makeev, 82. Glushakov, 85. Pejcinovic, 87
Referee: Igor Fedotov (Moscow)
30 April. Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium.