Held to Draw by Lorient

Lokomotiv drew level against FC Lorient in a friendly which took place during the club’s training camp in Austria.

On Day 4 of the Austrian camp our team were set to face FC Lorient in a pre-season friendly. Those plans could have gone down the drain, disrupted by the weather: heavy rainfall rendered the turf at Silberstadt-Arena, where the game was scheduled, unplayable. The organizers, however, managed to quickly find a provisional ground - at SV Stans - within 20 kilometres of the original venue.

In the first half Lokomotiv and Lorient created almost nothing. Ignatiev put one effort into the side-netting off a lobbed ball from Samedov. The French squad answered with pressure from their striker duo of Waris and Moukandjo.

The second half was much more interesting in terms of action and the scoreline. The rivals were barely underway when Samedov’s lobbed delivery into the area found Pejcinovic who came really close but drew a brilliant save from the goalkeeper. Soon after Skuletic took advantage of a bad pass by one of Lorient defenders yet missed the target. In a few more minutes, though, Petar got a similar opportunity - and this time he did not waste it. Picking an excellent position in the box, Loko’s forward pounced on the mistake made by the opposing goalie who failed to get his hands on the ball following a through shot.

Three minutes to the fulltime whistle, Lorient came from behind. The freshly subbed on Forfana slotted a neat finish into the roof of the net from middle range and made it 1:1.

Lokomotiv’s next friendly fixture is scheduled for July 19 against Viktoria Plzen. The match will kick off at 19.00.

Pre-season friendly match

Lokomotiv - Lorient - 1:1 (1:1)
Goals scored: Skuletic, 62 (1:0). Forfana, 87 (1:1)

Lokomotiv: Abaev, Yanbaev, Mykhalyk, Pejcinovic, Shishkin (Logashov, 75), Ndinga (Barinov, 68), Tarasov (Kolomeytsev, 68), Miranchuk, Samedov (Maicon, 65), Ignatiev (Kasaev, 68), Skuletic (Henty, 68)
Lorient: Lecomte, Selemani, Rose, Toure, Koffi, Cabot, Ndong, Barthelme, Bouanga, Moukandjo, Waris
13 July, Austria.