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Lokomotiv have defeated Sporting (3:1) in the Europa League group stage first-round game.
Many Lokomotiv supporters were really concerned: Sporting is a solid club, they regularly play in the European competitions, and afterthe loss to CSKA were definitely angry with Russians. But captain Vedran Corluka told the pre-match press conference with authority: 'Sporting have a quality lineup but we don't fear them'. Igor Cherevchenko noticed he would use analytical data that the Sporting vs CSKA games provided.
There was no highly motivated Sporting in the first minutes. The teams were playing pretty slow football that could not satisfy the hosts. Sporting hardly created a single chance in the first half, the only one being an attempt by Oliveira from a corner. On the contrary, Lokomotiv capitalized on their first opportunity. Samedov intercepted in midfield, broke away on a counter with Niasse and headed home after the Senegalese's unsuccessful attempt.
In the second half Sporting increased pace and equalized in the 50th minute when Montero smashed it right under the crossbar. In just six minutes Lokomotiv took the lead again, and again it was Samedov - Niasse duo that made it. Baye Oumar sprinted towards the goal, waited for Samedov to join and passed to feet for him to finish.
Nine minutes later Niasse did it himself. The Senegalese received a long pass, gained pace, shook off three defenders and fooled the keeper, scoring another masterpiece.
Sporting did not fall apart, but Lokomotiv simply couldn't afford to lose such an advantage. The Portuguese have suffered their first-ever Europa League home defeat while the Railwaymen started their European campaign with an extremely important victory.
Europa League. Group stage. Group H. First leg
Sporting (Portugal) - Lokomotiv (Russia) - 1:3 (0:1)
Goals: Samedov, 12 (0:1). Montero, 50 (1:1). Samedov, 56 (1:2). Niasse, 65 (1:3).
Sporting: Rui Patricio, Jefferson, Paulo Oliveira, Joao Pereira, Tobias Figueiredo, Aquilani (A. Martins, 73), Adrien Silva, Gelson Martins, Montero (Ruiz, 63), Gutierrez, Carlos Mane (Slimani, 63).
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Shishkin, Corluka, Pejcinovic, Denisov, Tarasov (Mykhalyk, 85), Ndinga, Fernandes (Kolomeytsev, 80), Samedov, Maicon (Grigoryev, 81), Niasse.
Bookings: Figueiredo, 31. Denisov, 62. Tarasov, 75. Guilherme, 91. Gutierrez, 92.
Referee: Robert Schoergenhofer (Austria)
17 September. Lisbon. Jose Alvalade Stadium.
