Defeat at Anji Arena

As compared to the previous game Slaven Bilic made several changes in his starting squad. With suspension over, Jan Durica was reinstalled in defence. Elsewhere upfield, the duet Tigorev-Tarasov was brought back again. Maicon and Obinna were replaced with Samedov and Torbinsky. The latter was given the role of an in-depth forward, shifting Aleksey Miranchuk to the left flank.
 
The first half-an-hour were spent in an equal struggle for the ball. Dangers were few. The first real opportunity arose in the 32nd minute when Zhirkov managed a dangerous strike but Aleksey Miranchuk blocked it and then Vedran Corluka cleared the danger.
 
Lokomotiv responded almost immediately. Tarasov got the ball in midfield, rounded an opponent and passed into space where the ball was picked by Samedov. The midfielder came a bit closer to the goal and blasted in the upper corner leaving Gabulov no chance. The opener was there, 0:1!
 
Sadly enough, but Anji got back into the game very soon. In the 41st minute Corluka tried to cut the cross from Boussoufa to Eto'O, which turned an own goal.
 
Lokomotiv had a good chance to score in the 43rs minute when N'Doye shot but missed the target.
 
Anji were very aggressive after the break. In the 54th minute Eto'O shot but Dario Kresic saved. In the next attack, the Croatian international picked a good position in the box and didn't let Eto'O get to the ball. Later, Zhirkov couldn't find a proper position, marked by Corluka.
 
Ten minutes later Eto'O was in a dangerous position again but Corluka blocked his shot and saved the team.
 
Feeling the increasing pressure from Anji, Slaven Bilic decided to refresh his team. Thus, Samedov and N'Doye were replaced with Obinna and Pavlyuchenko.
 
But Anji got what they wanted. In the 74th minute the team from Dagestan played a corner. Jucilei outhanged his opponents in the box and headed on to the far post to find Eto'O who scored a winner.
 
Five minutes later Lokomotiv could have equalized when Pavlyuchenko got the ball in the box and shot but only hit a defender.
 
In the end of the game Anji all got down on their side, trying to close all spaces and outnumber their opponents in defence.
 
But Lokomotiv managed the last attack. Miranchuk made a great pass to Vitaly Denisov who shot at the goal but Gabulov saved. Obinna was first on that ball and rolled it at the corner but missed just a fraction!
 
Nevertheless, Lokomotiv didn't manage to score again. Another sorrowful defeat in an away game.
 
Anji - Lokomotiv 2:1 (1:1)
 
Goals: Samedov, 34 (0:1). Corluka – own goal, 41 (1:1). Eto'O, 74 (2:1).
 
Anji: Gabulov, Gadzhibekov, Joao Carlos, Tagirbekov, Ewerton, Diarra, Jucilei, Boussoufa, Willian, Zhirkov, Eto'O.
 
Lokomotiv: Kresic, Yanbaev, Durica, Corluka, Denisov, Tarasov, Tigorev, Samedov (Obinna, 68), Aleksey Miranchuk, Torbinsky, N'Doye (Pavlyuchenko, 68).
 
Yellow cards: Torbinsky, 18. Denisov, 30. Tarasov, 53. Corluka, 53.
 
Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (St Petersburg).
 
May 20. Kaspiysk. Anji-Arena.