First Game. First Place

Lokomotiv's first official game of 2014 saw several expected changes in the lineup. With Dmitriy Tarasov and Yan Tigorev injured and Lass Diarra disqualified manager Leonid Kuchuk had to fill the centre-back zone with different players. They were the Ukrainian Taras Mikhalik and the winter signing Aleksandr Sheshukov. Some good news was also that Guilherme's back after the ACL injury that kept him sidelined for half-a-year. The cap remains on the bench, though, until he's back in form.

The hosts rushed for an opener and in the 3rd minute Boussoufa, Samedov and Shishkin played a spectacular combination where Aleksandr made a cross but defenders managed to block it. Soon N'Doye got the ball in the box, fooled a defender with a false shot and was going to strike when an opponent stopped him.

Krylya Sovetov soon responded with a rapid raid by Makhmudov. The midfielder crossed to Forbes but the German was inaccurate.

Unlike Dame N'Doye. Vitaliy Denisov rammed down the wing and fired a long-cross to the box where the Senegalese sent home a perfect hallmark header.

The kick-off followed and right away Lokomotiv were close to doubling the lead. Vedran Corluka very unexpectedly rushed down the right flank and crossed but nobody was there to finish it off.

Ten minutes later the Wings' defender Amisulashvili made a mistake that could have been effective. He rolled the ball off the goal but N'Doye picked it up, approached the goal and rifled sending it wide.

Lokomotiv secured the score up to the half-time but as soon as the second half began the visitors were about to level. Tsallagov blasted from outside the box but Abayev parried it, as well as the immediate followup strike.

An hour into the game, the Railwaymen set up a 100% opportunity at Veremko's goal. N'Doye worked the ball in the box, passed back to Sergey Tkachyov who hit it first time accurately at the bottom corner. The goalie tried hard and tipped the ball away.

In the next episode the Senegalese forward had a chance to score a brace. Samedov played a great cross to #33 who kicked it but just over the crossbar.

Meanwhile, Leonid Kuchuk decided it was time to bring in some fresh blood - the move that proved effective. The duo of Magomed Ozdoyev and Roman Pavlyuchenko climbed off the bench to score a winner. The forward tackled an opponent, won the ball and passed to the young midfielder who chose to strike. His accurate and powerful shot set the score at 2:0.

Despite Lokomotiv controlled the ball they didn't manage to secure a clean sheet. The Wings managed a good counter-attack where Drahun sent a homing ball right into the top corner, no chances for Abayev.

Nevertheless the hosts gained three points which took them to the first line in the table.

Lokomotiv - Krylya Sovetov 2:1 (1:0)

Goals: N'Doye, 18 (1:0). Ozdoyev, 77 (2:0). Drahun, 88 (2:1).

Lokomotiv: Abayev, Corluka, Mikhalik, Durica, Denisov, Shishkin, Sheshukov, Boussoufa (Ozdoyev, 59), Samedov (Maicon, 74), Tkachyov, N'Doye (Pavlyuchenko, 70).

Krylya Sovetov: Veremko, Amisulashvili, Tsallagov, Verkhovtsov, Goreux (Chochiyev, 72), Forbes, Yatchenko, Drahun, Nemov, Makhmudov, Kornilenko (Caballero, 63).

Yellow card: Tsallagov, 81. Makhmudov, 90.

March 10. Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium. 12 130 spectators.