Started With Victory

Lokomotiv beat Mordovia on Gameweek 1 of the Russian Football Championship.

The opening of the season in Saransk turned into a festival. Some time before the kickoff the football lovers were entertained by the local groups. A big screen demonstrated the archive videos of the Olympic Games opening in Moscow which took place on the same day 35 years ago.

A new foreign players limit regulation and some staff problems made Igor Cherevchenko consider his starting lineup carefully, as he noted in the pre-game interview. Meanwhile, we think it is important to mention the registration of the young forward Nikolay Kipiani for the game.

The match started at moderate speed. Mordovia were feeling out the visitors while Lokomotiv were getting used to the astroturf that kept the ball jittering considerably. Mordovia could have used that to their advantage be Lutsenko or Dudiyev or Donald more careful with their chances.

After half-time, things changed. Lokomotiv increased speed that brought Mordovia troubles. Fifteen minutes after the restart came an opener. Shishkin crossed to Skuletic, the Serbian striker headed the ball to the back corner. Mordovia’s keeper Revishvili seemed to be following the ball out but all of a sudden saw it bouncing off the post into the back of the net.

Twelve minutes later the visitors had a chance to double the lead when the referee awarded them a penalty - Maicon had a go from the spot but Revishvili was safe this time, saving a difficult shot.

Late into the game Mordovia lashed out at Guilherme’s goal and eventually managed to shake a post but nevertheless failed to equalize. Lokomotiv start with a win!

Russian Championship. Gameweek 1.

Mordovia Saransk - Lokomotiv Moscow - 0:1 (0:0)
Goal: Skuletic, 60

Mordovia: Revishvili, Nakhushev, Gapon, Dudiyev, Rykov, Vlasov (Samodin, 83), Ivanov, Sysuyev (Mukhametshin, 77), Donald (Stevanovic, 64), Lutsenko, Le Tallek.
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Denisov, Shishkin, Corluka, Mykhalyk, Pejcinovic, Kasaev, Kolomeytsev, Grigoryev, Al. Miranchuk, Skuletic (Maicon, 69).
Saved penalty: Maicon, 72 (goalkeeper)
Bookings: Corluka, 30. Donald, 58. Gapon, 72. Nakhushev, 92. Shishkin, 93.
Referee: Igor Nizovtsev (Nizhniy Novgorod)
July 22. Saransk. Start Stadium.