Victory Over Rubin

Lokomotiv have defeated Rubin on Gameweek 28, making it the first victory under the acting head coach Igor Cherevchenko.

The supporters who came to watch football in Cherkizovo were not scared off by the pouring rain, not attracted by the Russia vs USA ice-hockey World Cup semifinal, and not discouraged by the team’s recent losses.

Rubin have been fighting their way to the Europa League, and wanted to take revenge on Lokomotiv for the defeat in the Cup Quarterfinal. That meant the Railwaymen had to play against a highly motivated opponent.

The weather was a factor. Touching the wet ball and bounces are different, and Magomed Ozdoev was unlucky: Mbark Boussoufa crossed from the right but the ex-Railroader headed it into his own net - 1:0.

In the second half, Pavlyuchenko justified the coach’s credit. Boussoufa made a well-timed pass to the striker, Roman dummied the marker and took an accurate shot at the back corner leaving keeper Ryzhikov gazing at the ball in the net - 2:0.

After the lead was doubled, Lokomotiv pulled back to their third and started defending the scoreline. Rubin’s attacks were mostly dismantled at bay, and if they did manage to penetrate the box the defenders immediately cleared. In one episode, Ozdoev had a chance but Denisov blocked the strike.

This game was marked by an important event: a homegrown talent, midfielder Dmitriy Barinov made his debut at the main team, substituting Boussoufa. Just moments later another freshman Umar Niasse made an opponent foul at him in the box, the ref pointed at the spot, and Alexander Samedov set the final score at 3:0.

Lokomotiv have secured their first win with the new coach. Now there’s the Cup Final ahead.

Russian Premier Leagus. Gameweek 28.
Lokomotiv - Rubin - 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: Ozdoev, 39 (own goal) (1:0). Pavlyuchrnko, 55 (2:0). Samedov, 93 (pen.) (3:0)

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Denisov, Pejcinovic, Corluka, Logashov, Shishkin, Kasaev, Samedov, Fernandes (Mykhalyk, 87), Boussoufa (Barinov, 90), Pavlyuchenko (Niasse, 66).
Rubin: Ryzhikov, Kuzmin, Kverkvelia, Navas, Nabiullin, Kislyak (Kambolov, 65), Ozdoev, Kanunnikov (Akhmetov, 77), Georgiev, Eduardo, Portnyagin (Livaya, 68).
Yellow cards: Georgiev, 16. Boussoufa, 37. Kuzmin, 59. Navas, 65. Shishkin, 83.
Referee: Sergey Ivanov (Rostov-on-Don)
May 16. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium.