Flawless Victory!

Lokomotiv's manager Leonid Kuchuk has been employing his favourite rotation scheme again. This evening, the much anticipated summer signing Mbark Boussoufa became the main attraction for the public at Cherkizovo. The other big name Lass Diarra remained seated, but just for a while. Midfielder Alexander Samedov and defender Taras Mykhalyk were back in the starting squad again, and striker Felipe Caicedo was selected to spearhead the Red-Greens' attack first time this season.

After a 5-minute warm-up Loko demonstrated they were going to get the three points anyway. Vedran Corluka carried the ball forward and passed to Caicedo. The Equadorian saw Alexander Samedov in a scoring position but the defenders cleared.

Goal-hungry forward who has long been taking his time on the bench was eager to use the chance. He posed much threat to Rostov's defence as his grasp for the ball was tight. Once it was close - Felipe broke to the byline and centered but the cross was blocked.

In the next attack, Maicon showed he's a force too. The Brazilian crossed to Samedov whose kick lacked accuracy, though. Minutes later he made a good pass to Boussoufa who broke into the box and fell after a contact with Xulu, but the ref paid no attention to that.

Rostov tried to bother Ilia Abaev with Timofey Kalachyov's powerful kick but the ball went wide. Loko's responce looked much more dangerous. Maicon won the air battle and headed to Boussoufa who rolled the ball goalwards but Pletikosa grabbed it.

Stepping up pressure on Rostov's goal the Railwaymen were close to scoring an opener. Maicon produced another classy cross to Caicedo whose close-range header flew wide.

With five minutes to play in the half, the game seemed to calm down, but that wasn't so. Boussoufa broke into the box from the left and centered to Caicedo. This time the Equadorian sent the ball straight home, no chances for the keeper. Last minute goal.

The second half started just like the first one ended. Calm in the beginning, it was exploded by a goal by Lokomotiv. Boussoufa's pass found the agile Maicon in the box, and a defender had to play a last  man which resulted in a red card, and a penalty. Alexander Samedov came to do the spot-kick, and in a second it was 2:0.

Four minutes later came another goal. Defender Vitaly Denisov sprinted along the touchline for the ball, got it at the byline and crossed finding Maicon. The Brazilian shot, making the score big.

In the next episode Rostov's Lolo lost the ball to Maicon. Unable to hold his emotions, the Ivorian pushed the young forward hard, - all in front of the reserve referee. This resulted in a red card, the second one for the team. Nine against eleven, away, losing, Rostov was doomed.

Two hours into the game the gap incresed to 4 goals. Denisov made another assist and the tall Dmitry Tarasov forced the ball into the net!

Out on the bench, Leonid Kuchuk continued pulling the strings. The manager selected two freshman to boost attack, them being Aleksey Miranchuk and Roman Pavlyuchenko. And SuperPav proved he had something up his sleeve.

Again, it started with Denisov. The Uzbek international rammed into the box and passed to Pavlyuchenko who rolled the ball at the far corner. You could think he was going to miss, but that was only because he was so accurate! Right into the corner, no chances for the keeper, setting the final score at 5:0!

Lokomotiv scored five goals in a game first time in almost five years. This brought them second standing in the table, and good mood prior to the next game against Zenit.

Lokomotiv - Rostov 5:0 (1:0)

Goals: Caicedo, 45 (1:0). Samedov, 54 – pen. (2:0). Maicon, 58 (3:0). Tarasov, 62 (4:0). Pavlyuchenko, 83 (5:0).

Lokomotiv: Abayev, Shishkin, Durica, Corluka, Denisov, Mikhalik (Diarra, 64), Tarasov, Samedov, Boussoufa, Maicon (Al. Miranchuk, 73), Caicedo (Pavlyuchenko, 66).

Rostov: Pletikosa, Agalarov, Dyakov, Lolо, Xulu, Sheshukov, Gatcan, Kanga (Milic, 56), Ananidze (Poloz, 56), Kalachyov, Dzyuba (Fatullayev, 64).

Yellow cards: Kanga, 26. Boussoufa, 29. Lolo, 45.

Red cards: Agalarov, 53 (last man foul). Lolo, 59 (second yellow card).

August 26. Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium. 10 460 spectators.