More Than Just Victory!
Lokomotiv head coach Miodrag Bozovic had almost the optimal squad prior to the game against Torpedo. Ian Durica, Taras Mykhalyk, and Dmitriy Tarasov have done their disqualification and were eager to play. Maicon and Sheshukov were missing the game but they were easily replaced.
In the first half, there was a very hard fight. Both teams rarely left spaces uncovered and were not willing to risk. The fans started singing and yelling immediately. Perfect weather, green turf and powerful support - Cherkizovo enjoyed the real football atmosphere. No other option for a derby!
Torpedo could create some problems for the hosts when Anton Putilo fired off a close-range shot but Guilherme put his feet in the way. In the 37th minute the cap was great again when he helped the ball out after Stevanovic’s powerful attempt.
Lokomotiv responded with the flank breaks by Kasaev. Alan wasn’t scared to dribble the ball and did it well. But Lokomotiv lacked the last touch. In one episode, a well-positioned Skuletic was waiting for the ball but didn’t receive it. Moments later Kasaev managed to serve him a ball, but the Serbian striker’s bicycle kick was ineffective. Soon Samedov passed to Skuletic who headed it but to no avail.
On 45 minutes Dmitriy Tarasov played one-two with a teammate, rounded two opponents and was moving on but let the ball too far away and fouled on a defender. Skuletic scored moments after but the goal was canceled. This wasn’t the end of the episode, though. When Tarasov got on his feet, Rykov approached him and brought him down again. The referee made himself clear with a direct red card.
In the second half, Lokomotiv immediately showed who runs the show at Cherkizovo. Samedov and Shishkin were especially active on the right flank and kept serving the ball to the box, but not always did it reach the target man. Nevertheless, Kasaev had several opportunities to finish it off.
On 58 minutes Skuletic moved out to the side and centered to Boussoufa. Mbark was running at full speed and it was difficult to adjust himself for a strike. His attempt wentstraight into the keeper. On 61 minutes the Moroccan could have scored again but his header sailed above the crossbar.
Lokomotiv continued building up pressure. The hosts felt comfortably in the opponents’ box. On 68 minutes Miodrag Bozovic made a double substitution: Alexey Miranchuk replaced Boussoufa, and Taras Mykhalyk came in for Durica who felt sudden pain and couldn’t go on. Minutes before that Roman Pavlyuchenko had a chance.
On 70 minutes, Samedov crossed to Pavlyuchenko who hurled the ball at the far corner but Zhevnov managed to parry, only for Manu Fernandes to pick it up and send it home anyway. Lokomotiv continued attacking, the goal inspired the players. The visitors started to give in, and very soon Lokomotiv doubled the lead. Kasaev was knocked down in the box, Manu Fernandes took a spot-kick and scored a winner - 2:0. That’s his first brace during the time at our team, which made him Lokomotiv’s best scorer of the current season.
The Red-Greens continued creating chances. Kasaev and Samedov tried to find holes in defence, Miranchuk found spaces and set up for his partners. Lokomotiv were not going to sit back and eventually won the derby.
ONLY LOKO, ONLY VICTORY!
Lokomotiv- Torpedo - 2:0 (0:0)
Goals: Fernandes, 70 (1:0). Fernandes, 74 (pen.) (2:0)
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Corluka, Durica (Mykhalyk, 68), Denisov, Shishkin, Tarasov, Fernandes, Kasaev, Samedov, Boussoufa (Alexey Miranchuk, 68), Skuletic (Pavlyuchenko, 60)
Torpedo: Zhevnov, K. Kombarov, Mikutskis, Rykov, Franzic, Stevanovic, Steklov, Zenev (Kokoska, 46), Bilyaletdinov (Pugin, 71), Putilo, Viera (Smarason, 63)
Yellow cards: Fernandes, 43. Tarasov, 45. Mikutskis, 73. Alexey Miranchuk, 91
Red cards: Rykov, 45
Referee: Alexey Nikolaev (Moscow).
April 8th. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium.
The official website was doing live text commentary also available on Twitter.
