Annoying Defeat

Benched for three games in a row, the supermotivated striker Felipe Caicedo returned to the starting squad. Five minutes into the game, Caicedo stole the ball on the flank from Mario Fernandes and crossed into the box. Alexander Samedov found the ball and struck but right into the hands of the keeper.

In the next attack, the Ecuadorian found himself alone against three opposing players and lost the ball. It bounced to Andrey Eschenko who fell down tackled by Akinfeev but the referee was okay with it.

In the middle of the half Loko suffered the first loss – Jan Durica got injured and Slaven Bilic substituted him with Taras Burlak.

In the 28th minute CSKA was given a free kick which turned successful. Rasmus Elm sent the ball over the wall right into the corner.

The Railwaymen needed only four minutes to get back into the game. Andrey Eschenko tried his luck from the edge of the box and the ball bounced off Fernandes into the back of the net. This was Andrey’s first goal for Loko.

Lokomotiv could have got into the driving seat before the break. In the 45th minute Maxim Grigoriev earned a foul in the dangerous proximity from the goal and later made a good pass to Corluka who had a big chance to score.

In the beginning of the second half CSKA got on a power play. Dmitry Tarasov got booked for the second time and was sent off. That tranquillized the game a bit, CSKA possessed the ball more but the Railwaymen cut all roads to Dario Kresic’s goal.

In the 67th minute the managers made a substitution each. Slaven Bilic boosted attack with Maicon and Sloutskiy changed Tosic for Tsaunya. Soon Bilic also changed Caicedo for N’Doye.

Ten minutes to full time Loko were left 9 vs 11. Maicon hurt back thigh on the right leg and couldn’t continue. All the subs had been used by that time.

Even in this situation Lokomotiv had a chance to score. Grigoriev worked the ball on the edge of the box and shot but Akinfeev saved. Minutes later Maxim headed the ball goalwards but missed by just a whisker.

N’Doye could have scored two minutes before the final whistle. The Senegalese lost his marker and shot just over the crossbar.

In the injury time, CSKA managed to capitalize on the power play. Ignasevic shot but Kresic managed to stop the ball with his foot. However, Vernbloom was first on the ball and hammered it into the net.

CSKA –Lokomotiv 2:1 (1:1)

Goals: Elm, 29 (1:0). Eschenko, 33 (1:1). Vernbloom, 90 (2:1).

CSKA: Akinfeev, Ignasevic, Mario Fernandes, Nababkin, Vasily Berezoutsky, Vernbloom, Honda, Dzagoev (Mamaev, 79), Elm, Tosic (Tsaunya, 67) Moussa.

Lokomotiv: Kresic, Corluka, Durica (Burlak, 28), Shishkin, Eschenko, Grigoriev, Glushakov, Samedov (Maicon, 67), Tarasov, Tigorev, Caicedo (N’Doye, 78).

Yellow cards: Tarasov, 42. Tosic, 56. Nababkin, 69. Dzagoev, 76.

Red card: Tarasov, 53 (second yellow card).

Referee: Timur Arslanbekov (Moscow).

November 4. Moscow. Luzhniki Stadium. 8000 spectators.