Defeat to CSKA

As compared to the last game in Makhachkala Jose Couceiro made some changes in his starting eleven. The most surprising one was the appearance of Maxim Grigoriev who played his first official game for Lokomotiv.

Prior to the start of the match the Railwaymen fans organized a picturesque performance on the Southern Grandstand. When singing the national anthem, they set up a huge banner showing a steam locomotive sweeping the badges of three other Moscow clubs off its way.

But the game started with a cold shower for Lokomotiv. In the 7th minute the CSKA forward Doumbia fell down in the penalty area next to Da Costa. The referee Vitaly Meshkov interpreted this episode as a professional foul by the Portuguese defender. Da Costa was shown a red card sent off, and CSKA was granted a penalty. Meshkov didn’t like Doumbia’s first strike and the Ivorian was asked to hit again, and still it was a goal.

Following the removal of Da Costa, Jose Couseiro was forced to bring in some tactic changes. As a result, Maxim Grigoriev moved down to the left back position squeezing Andrey Eschenko out into the central defence area.

Despite the paralyzing beginning the Railwaymen were ready to rumble. In the 16th minute they could have equalized. Maicon crossed to the centre of the box from the right flank and Caicedo netted but a linesman indicated an off-side.

Caicedo had some more opportunities but never scored. In the half-time. Couceiro was forced to substitute him with Victor Obinna, as the Ecuadorian got injured and couldn’t go on.

Obinna started off actively and got in a position to score an hour into the game. Grigoriev carried the ball through the half of the pitch right to the edge of the box and set up the Nigerian who stroke but the ball went slightly over the crossbar.  

In the middle of the second half Jose Couceiro was forced to make another substitution: the Brazilian keeper Guilherme got injured and the young Alexander Filtsov took his position.

Alas, but only 12 minutes later Filtsov saw the ball behind his back. Seidou Doumbia passed to Zoran Tosic who dummied a defender and scored. However the Railwaymen just kept on attacking but all their efforts remained fruitless.

In the last minutes, CSKA scored again. The Army Men were granted a free kick taken by Tosic. The ball went into the wall, changed its direction after an unlucky deflection and crossed the goal-line followed by Filtsov’s stare.

During the three added minutes, Obinna created two more opportunities but first his pass to Sychev was read by a CSKA player and then the Nigerian’s strike was met by defender Vasin.

Lokomotiv – CSKA 0:3 (0:1)

Goals: Doumbia, 9 – pen. (0:1). Tosic, 78 (0:2). Tosic, 88 (0:3).

Lokomotiv: Guilherme (Filtsov, 66), Burlak , Da Costa, Shishkin, Eschenko, Zapater, Grigoriev, Glushakov, Torbinsky (Sychev, 71), Caicedo (Obinna, 46), Maicon.

CSKA: Akinfeev, Vasin, Berezutski A., Nababkin (Shemberas, 46), Shennikov, Wernbloom, Honda, Musa (Sekou, 62), Tosic, Aldonin, Doumbia (Necid, 89)

Yellow cards: Honda, 25. Glushakov, 32. Nababkin, 40. Wernbloom, 84.

Red cards: Da Costa, 7.

Referee: Vitaly Meshkov (Dmitrov)

May 2. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium. 14 087 spectators.