Playing Big In The New Year!

The team have been looking forward to their first game in 2014: after a week of intensive training they wanted to go and see what they have achieved, even despite the opponents were not that strong. In an interview with Lokomotiv official web site, midfielder Dmitriy Tarasov said "I just want to come out and play. I’d prefer to play friendlies four times a week rather than practice a lot. So I’m just eager to start playing, finally!"

Despite their low-level status, Esperanca from Portugal's third division demonstrated good team play in the first half. It was clear Loko's eleven were a bit exhausted by constant practices at the camp but still they found an opportunity to score. Young midfielder Vyacheslav Podberyozkin managed a good chip shot over an opponent, the ball came to Maksim Grigoryev and the forward made no mistake in a one-on-one duel.

In the second half Leonid Kuchuk gave a chance to another eleven, and they made the score big. In the 51st minute a long-range strike from Boussoufa reached the target but as it turned out this was only the beginning.

Just three minutes after Boussoufa's goal the young forward Arshak Koryan boasted his speed. The homegrown talent was knocked down in the box, the referee pointed at the spot and Arshak decided to try his luck but unsuccessfully. Nevertheless, he used the very next chance: the goalkeeper tipped the ball behind the touchline, the Railwaymen played a corner and Koryan sent the ball home. 0:3.

By the mid-half Lokomotiv played as if there was no month-long break. 20 minutes before the end Dmitriy Tarasov made a superb last pass to Roman Pavlyuchenko who converted his chance into a goal.

Loko's total domination soon resulted in another goal. And again it was Koryan who showed his speed and skill. The youngster broke away from the defenders, ran into the box and made a chip shot that left the keeper gazing the ball landing in the goal. The final score was settled - 0:5.

Loko's first victory in the year went big, now the team are in good mood getting ready for their second friendly against Portugal's top flight FC Olhanence. After the game on January 22nd the Railwaymen are coming home.

Lokomotiv - Esperanca 5:0 (1:0)

Goals: Grigoryev, 24 (1:0). Boussoufa, 51 (2:0). Koryan, 56 (3:0). Pavlyuchenko, 70 (4:0). Koryan, 75 (5:0).

Missed penalties: Koryan, 54 (keeper).

Lokomotiv (1st half): Abayev, Shishkin, Mikhalik, Durica, Denisov, Diarra, Ozdoyev, Aleksey Miranchuk, Tkachyov, Podberyozkin, Grigoryev.

Lokomotiv (2nd half): Shirokov (Lobantsev, 68), Seraskhov, Lystsov, Belyayev, Yanbayev, Tigorev, Tarasov, Samedov, Boussoufa, Koryan, Pavlyuchenko.