Victory Over Zenit

Lokomotiv win against Zenit in the closing match of the ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian championship’s first stage.


Sunday night fixture versus Zenit began with a joint commemoration by the fans of the people killed on flight A321 from Egypt. Nine minutes passed in utter silence while crowds in the stands were holding candlelight vigil.

There were no surprise changes to the line-up that had played against Besiktas. The only alteration was Miranchuk who started in the place of Fernandes.

Two minutes off, Zenit already created their first chance. Ryazantsev was found isolated in the vicinity of our goal and would have put the ball through, had Guilherme not got in the way. Loko closed down spaces quickly to make no more sorry blunders. By the 20th minute of the game we could have scored twice as Maicon and Miranhcuk came really close.

The sides created many opportunities. The biggest threats of the first half were probably Niasse’s scissor kick and the potent shot by Danny from the rim of the box.

After the interval, the play intensified. Maicon attacking efforts yielded fruit - on 48 minutes Loko’s forward took a shot at goal. It was parried by Lodygin but bounced off Lombaerts right into the net – 1:0. Lokomotiv did not even slow down. Ten minutes after, Samedov was left unmarked in midfield and belted the ball right into the left corner.

“Go forth, Lokomotiv Moscow!” – the Southern Stand kept chanting. Loko seemed insatiable – they pinned down the opponent to their goal. There came Miranchuk’s attempts and Niasse’s runs. Zenit fought back, yet the Railwaymen kept them out of the danger zone.

Late into the match, Zenit lost their best chance of scoring, when Criscito latched on to Smolnikov’s through pass but hit the post.

Lokomotiv have won the last game of the first stage of the Russian championship. Our team have caught up with Rostov, cut the gap to CSKA and are sitting four points clear of Zenit.


ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Football Championship. Gameweek 15

Lokomotiv - Zenit - 2:0 (0:0)
Goals scored: Lombaerts, 47 (own goal) (1:0). Samedov, 59 (2:0)

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Denisov, Durica, Shishkin, Yandbaev, Ndinga, Kolomeytsev, Samedov, Maicon (Grigoryev, 66), Al.Miranchuk (Mykhalyk, 86), Niasse (Skuletic, 90)
Zenit: Lodygin, Anyukov (Yevseyev, 76), Neto, Lombaerts, Criscito, Javi Garcia (Witsel, 64), Yusupov, Ryazantsev (Smolnikov, 72), Danny, Hulk, Dzyuba
Bookings: Hulk, 49. Javi Garcia, 64. Maicon, 64. Neto, 74. Denisov, 80.
Referee: Vladimir Moskalyov (Voronezh)
November 8. Moscow, Lokomotiv stadium.