Lost to the Leader

The game started off with a quick goal by the Armymen. Denis Glushakov and Alan Dzagoev fought for the ball which rolled to Vagner Love and the Brazilian shot under the very crossbar.

Lokomotiv could have gotten back into the game in just a couple of minutes when N'Doye managed to receive the ball in the box and was about to round Akinfeev but the keeper was there a moment earlier.

Five minutes later the Senegalese threatened CSKA's goal again but Akinfeev grabbed the ball.

In the 14th minute it became hot at Dario Kresic's goal. Surrounded by defenders, Vagner Love found a good attacking position but Vitaly Denisov managed to clear the danger.

The Railwaymen responded with another attempt by N'Doye. Alas, the forward's shot was inaccurate, besides a linesman flagged an offside.

In another attack Renat Yanbaev crossed from his flank into the box but Victor Obinna failed to strike.

The response was a goal. Dzagoev ran up the flank and centered. The quick Moussa made an impressive run and picked his spot in the corner.

Half-an-hour into the game, Victor Obinna entered the box and crossed but Akinfeev cut the pass, catching the ball.

Closer to the half time Lokomotiv threatened Akinfeev's goal again. First, Maicon broke through the defenders from a flank and shot but the keeper played well. Later Miranchuk managed a great shot from the box but the ball went just off the corner.

Alas, CSKA scored again shortly before the break. Honda shot from a distance, Kresic parried awkwardly and let the ball go to Vagner Love. Dead sure the Brazilian used his chance.

In the half time Slaven Bilic made a double substitution, replacing Glushakov and Miranchuk with Caicedo and Torbinsky.

This injection of fresh blood had some effect in the beginning of the second half. In the 50th minute Obinna found an opportunity to shoot but Akinfeev took the ball. Three minutes later N'Doye got the ball in the box, left it to Caicedo who seemed to have dropped his marker but a defender managed to clear the ball off the Ecuadorian's foot the very last moment.

But eventually Lokomotiv managed to score in the 55th minute. Dmitry Tarasov broke into the box and picked his spot in the corner!

Lokomotiv possessed the initiative, but couldn't capitalize on it. Unlike their opponents, CSKA managed to use another chance they had. Doumbia played one-two with Vagner Love and slammed the ball into the net.

Late into the game, Lokomotiv could have made the score decent when N'Doye was about to finalize Samedov's cross but Akinfeev secured his goal again.

The rest of the game brought nothing but a long-range shot by Samedov which was inaccurate, though.

Lokomotiv - CSKA 1:4 (0:3)

Goals: Vagner Love, 6 (0:1). Moussa, 26 (0:2). Vagner Love, 43 (0:3). Tarasov, 55 (1:3). Doumbia, 74 (1:4).

Lokomotiv: Kresic, Burlak, Corluka, Denisov, Yanbaev, Tarasov, Glushakov (Caicedo, 46), Aleksey Miranchuk (Torbinsky, 46), Obinna (Samedov, 66), Maicon, N'Doye.

CSKA: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Ignashevich, Nababkin, V. Berezutsky, Wernbloom, Elm, Honda (Mamaev, 46), Dzagoev (Doumbia, 67), Moussa (Efremov, 90), Vagner Love.

Yellow card: Tarasov, 69.

Referee: Aleksey Nikolaev (Москва).

May 12. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium. 24 846 spectators.