Draw in Rostov

As the game kicked off, the hosts grabbed the initiative but couldn't capitalize on it and eventually the first scoring opportunity came in the 10th minute when Lokomotiv had a chance. Alexander Samedov's impressive run was followed by a cross to Maicon who shot at the goal. Just a minute later Denis Glushakov charged the ball towards the goal but Pletikosa managed to parry it.

Right after this Dame N'Doye found himself in a dangerous position. Reto Ziegler spotted the Senegalese and passed on to him but the forward couldn't make it to the ball. Rostov replied with a dangerous run of Sinama-Pongoll but Glushakov and Eschenko cleared the ball from the Frenchman's feet.

In the mid-half both teams started fouling and free kicks were awarded every now and then. One of them could turn effective for Lokomotiv. Maicon was knocked down near the box, Samedov crossed into the area but Tarasov's header went over the crossbar.

In the second half, set pieces and high balls became the Railwaymen's main weapons. Once, Loko played a long corner, Jan Durica headed on to the far post to Tarasov who was ready to shoot but Rostov's defenders blocked him. Soon Durica tried his luck too after Samedov's cross but well wide.

Another corner became a chance for N'Doye. Glushakov blasted at the goal and the Senegalese could have picked up the ball first but Pletikosa gave him no chance again.

The second half started with a still. The first danger turned up by the 58th minute: Glushakov was knocked down right in front of the box, Ziegler was positive from the range but the ball just bounced off the wall. Lokomotiv picked it up and tried to score but Samedov's strike from within the box went straight into a defender.

Slaven Bilic decided it was time to fuel up his team and changed Victor Obinna with Dmitry Torbinsky. Soon after this the Railwaymen sieged Rostov's goal. Torbinsky passed two defenders and fell down but the referee spotted no foul. Lokomotiv was given several free kicks later but failed to capitalize on them.

In less that 10 minutes Bilic was forced to take Torbinsky out of the game. The midfielder got injured and was substituted by the recently recovered Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Roman could have set up for N'doye but the linesman saw the Senegalese offside just an inch. Soon after this Maxim Grigoriev replaced Maicon in an effort to boost attack.

By this time it seemed Rostov has had enough of Loko's attacks and must concede eventually. The culmination of the final siege was N'Doye's last opportunity. The Senegalese moved smartly into the space, Samedov spotted him and passed sending the forward one on one with the keeper. N'Doye came close and shot but missed just a fraction.

Loko continued pressing their opponents until the final whistle but unsuccessfully. The game resulted in a draw.

«Rostov» - «Lokomotiv» 0:0

«Rostov»: Pletikosa, Angbwa, Salata, Dyakov, Getigezhev, Sheshukov, Gazkan, Bentley (Blatnjak, 84), Cesnauskis (Poloz, 71), Sinama-Pongoll (Cocis, 90), Golenda.

«Lokomotiv»: Cresic, Ziegler, Corluka, Durica, Eschenko, Tarasov, Glushakov, Obinna (Torbinsky, 64. Pavlyuchenko, 72), Maicon (Grigoriev, 83), Samedov, N'doye.

Yellow cards: Durica, 22. Glushakov, 41. Getigezhev, 69. Ziegler, 78. Samedov, 84. Poloz, 86. Cocis, 90. Sheshukov, 90. Dyakov, 90.

Referee: Sergey Kuznetsov (Krasnozavodsk)

October 21, Rostov-on-Don. Olimp-2 Stadium.