Home Draw

Leonid Kuchuk again made several changes in his starting list. The goalie Ilya Abayev who missed the last game due to an illness was now back, Taras Mikhalik started as a defensive midfielder instead of Roman Shishkin, while Magomed Ozdoyev was sent to play in the hole. Former Anji stars Mbark Boussoufa and Lassana Diarra recovered from injuries and were back on the bench. Anji had several former Railwaymen on their list too: Yeshchenko and Bilyaletdinov started, while the injured Aleksandr Aliyev sat in the dugout.

Both teams had good motives to rush for points: Lokomotiv have to harvest as many as they can to stay on the top, while bottom-dwellers Anji have to do the same to remain in the Premier League for another season. So both pressed hard and Lokomotiv made the first attempt: Mikhalik took a long-range shot but Kerzhakov tipped it away.

Soon Aleksandr Samedov earned a dangerous free kick which he took himself. The captain bent it over the wall but Kerzhakov was there again.

In the middle of the half the visitors tried to storm Abayev's goal but Lokomotiv worked well in defence not allowing even to get close to their area.

The Railwaymen could have scored the cracker soon, when Samedov crossed from a free kick to N'Doye whose header shook the crossbar.

Not long before the half-time Kerzhakov found himself busy. And again Samedov centered, the ball found N'Doye who hit it first touch but the goalkeeper tipped it away in an unbelievable save!

Anji's response came quickly when Bystrov rammed into the box and rounded Abayev but Jan Durica played the last man tripping the midfielder and clearing the danger.

In the extra time, Lokomotiv had another chance. N'Doye broke one-on-one but his attempt went straight into the keepers' hands.

In the half-time Leonid Kuchuk changed Magomed Ozdoyev for Mbark Boussoufa. Fifteen minutes later, Lassana Diarra climbed off the bench to substitute Mikhalik.

The Frenchman boosted attacking potential immediately. Lass dribbled Maksimov at the edge of the area and tried to carry the ball inside but was stopped by several defenders. Loko were given a corner that was played by Samedov to the far post where N'Doye received the ball but failed to shake off the markers who stopped him.

Twenty minutes before the final whistle Lokomotiv were forced to make another substitution: Maicon was carried off the pitch with an injury and gave way to Maksim Grigoryev.

While Maksim was warming up on the left, Boussoufa and Samedov were heavily using the right flank. Mbark earned a free kick and crossed but Vedran Corluka's strike went wide.

Lokomotiv were pushing hard for a goal and were very close to finally scoring an opener. Diarra made a great pass to N'Doye who received the ball on the right corner of the area, entered and blasted but Kerzhakov got in the way.

In the entire half, the visitors created not a single opportunity while Lokomotiv had many. Grigoryev’s attempt was close but the shot was inaccurate.

Eventually, neither Lokomotiv, nor Anji managed to score. The tie brought each team a point which means the leaders from Zenit now have a slim advantage over the Railwaymen.

Lokomotiv - Anji 0:0

Lokomotiv: Abayev, Yanbayev, Corluka, Durica, Denisov, Mikhalik (Diarra, 58), Sheshukov, Samedov, Ozdoyev (Boussoufa, 46), Maicon (Grigoryev, 68), N'Doye.

Anji: Kerzhakov, Yeshchenko, Gadzhibekov, Grigalava, Epureanu, Bilyaletdinov, Akhmedov, Bystrov (Gadzhiyev, 71), Maksimov, Smolov (Everton, 37), Bukharov (Serderov, 82).

Yellow cards: Akhmedov, 52. Boussoufa, 57.

April 13. Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium. 11 499 spectators.