Fell To Defeat Against Sporting

Lokomotiv lost to Sporting on Matchday 5 of the Europa League group stage.

In the game against Sporting, Lokomotiv had a chance to book their place in Europa League playoff. To proceed further, the team just needed points.

The squad arrived to the stadium on metro. the infamous Moscow traffic jams were too heavy on that Thursday evening. In spite of that, Lokomotiv were the side to score an early opener. Ndinga challenged two defenders in midfield, the ball deflected to Maicon, who beat the opposing keeper in a one-on-one. Sporting equalized within the space of 15 minutes as Montero finished off a cross from the right wing. After pulling back, the Portuguese gained the initiative and their attacking raids to Guilherme’s goal became frequent.

Sporting’s second homer came in the middle of the half, when Montero exchanged passes with Ruiz, the latter chipping the ball past the goalie. Five minutes on, we saw another goal – this time from Gelson Martins who broke down the wing. As a matter of fact, Martins started from an offside position, but referees did not notice it.

After half-time, Lokomotiv turned up the heat eager to come from behind. First Maicon fired against the bar. In a minute, Niasse missed the target by centimetres when he latched onto the pass by Fernandes.

Then Sporting capitalized on the back line's mistake. Matheus Pereira was put through clean on goal and poked between the keeper’s legs. Four minutes to go, Miranchuk managed to narrow the gap but that didn't help. Lokomotiv suffered their first defeat in the current round of the Europa League and postponed the matter of qualifying for the knockout stage until the fixture vs Skenderbeu.

Europa league. Group stage. Group H. Matchday 5

Lokomotiv - Sporting - 2:4 (1:3)
Goals scored: Maicon, 5 (1:0). Montero, 20 (1:1). Ruiz, 38 (1:2). Gelson Martins, 43 (1:3). Matheus Pereira (1:4). Miranchuk, 86 (2:4)
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Fernandes (Miranchuk, 78), Maicon (Kasaev, 81), Mykhalyk, Samedov, Niasse, Tarasov (Kolomeytsev, 65), Durica, Denisov, Shishkin, Ndinga
Sporting: Marcelo, Silva, Ewerton, Naldo, Ricardo Esgaio, Joao Mario (Aquilani, 78), Adrien Silva, Gelson Martins, Montero (Slimani, 71), Ruiz, Matheus Pereira (Andre Martins, 66)
Referee: Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
26 November, Moscow. Lokomotiv stadium