First Pre-Season Win
Lokomotiv have beaten Istiklol in a pre-season friendly.
Lokomotiv arrived in Dushanbe the day before the fixture. The weather in the Tajik capital does not favour long strolls right now: in the daytime the air temperature may reach 35 degrees Celsius. The city springs back to life only in the twilight, when the sun dips below the horizon. Then streets fill up with people. Crowds meander around giving themselves a respite after the sizzling-hot day.
However, Lokomotiv could not afford to relax. The team’s visit to Dushanbe came as part of preparation for the next season. Istiklol FC would be the first test for the Railwaymen. We were going to take on many-time Tajik title-holders. There was a lot of excitement ahead of the clash, understandably. First and foremost, the Moscow side have a real army of supporters living in Tajikistan. The friendly was arranged together with the local Russian Embassy to honour 25 years since the Republic of Tajikistan declared independence from the Soviet Union. Thirdly, the Dushanbe-born Igor Cherevchenko used to play for the Tajikistan national team - that fact woke personalized interest.
As players would say afterwards, they did not expect such throngs of fans and reporters in connection with the match. The meeting at the airport was magnificent, and no less was our departure for the game.
Loko turned out in the Tajik Republic with a very strong team, which Igor Cherevchenko emphasized at the pre-match press conference. Sarkis Oganesyan, in his turn, said that there could be starters from the second squad. And so it happened when we saw defender Ivan Lapshov line up for the match.
While Loko were warming up, fans gave them massive applause. At the same time a voice in the loudspeakers recounted the club’s history. The first half saw Lokomotiv dominate the pitch. The Railroaders applied a lot of pressure in the home box. Istiklol responded with long balls – without much accuracy, though. The first sight of goal came mere two minutes underway when Ezekiel Henty produced a tricky shot. His attempt was followed by numerous other efforts. As the opening half wore down, we finally found the back of the net thanks to Aleksey Miranchuk’s reaction in a penalty box melee. He tucked the ball inside the far post. Istiklol created but one scoring chance for themselves in the dying minutes of the half through one of the Tajik side's strikers. His chipped volley went inches off the post.
After the recess Lokomotiv fielded a new-look side, and the game took a different turn: now Istiklol attacked in force. The home team did equalize early on in the second-half through forward David Mawutor who scored in a style similar to that of Miranchuk. And the play slowed down, its focus shifting to midfield. Among the Railwaymen Mikhail Lysovand Ivan Galanin were particularly noticeable. Dzhamshed Rakhmonov joined in the attack with Vlad Ignatiev in support.
Lokomotiv managed to snatch a last-gasp victory via Petar Skuletic’s signature header following a high pass into the area.
Lokomotiv claim their first win between the seasons. There was one more winner that night - one the attendants whose ticket number had been picked in a car lottery. The lucky owner drove home a new Lada Priora. Our team returns to Moscow tomorrow to resume the training camp.
Pre-Season Friendly
Istiklol – Lokomotiv - 1:2 (0:1)
Goals scored: Miranchuk, 32 (0:1). Mawutor, 53 (1:1) Skuletic, 89 (1:2).
Istiklol: Stosic, Asrorov, Mawutor, Chahjouyi, Davronov, Kovalchuk, Vasiev, Fatkhuloev, Nasarov, Juraboev, M.Dzhalilov
Reserve players: Tabrezi, D.Dzhalilov, Aliev, Bobojonov, Sharipov, Panjshanbe, Boboev
Lokomotiv opening-half team: Abaev, Yanbaev, Lapshov, Pejcinovic, Denisov, Barinov, Seraskhov, Tarasov, Kasaev, Miranchuk, Henty
Closing-half team: Kochenkov, Logashov, Mykhalyk, Kolomeytsev, Ignatiev, Skuletic, Makhatadze, Lysov, Ndinga, Rakhmonov, Galanin
26 June. Dushanbe (Tajikistan). Central Republican Stadium of Dushanbe
