Setback In Grozny
Lokomotiv succumbed to Terek during Gameweek 19 of Russian Premier League.
On the eve of the match, it was a big day of boxing in Grozny. The event was truly paramount. Prize fighting bouts were the primary subject of conversation across the city. It was easy to get the impression that the local fans’ priorities had shifted away from the football match awaiting them.
The Grozny citizens were upset by the defeat of Ruslan Chagaev, their huge favourite. Obviously, had he won the mood at Akhmat-Arena would have been much better. To make things worse it started raining cats and dogs a few hours before the kick-off. However, those circumstances could not influence the emotions on the pitch.
The beginning was terrific. The mid-season dip in form? We saw no traces of it. The sides marked a goal each within mere eight minutes of play. The Railwaymen drew the first blood when Samedov, picked out by Pejcinovic’s through pass, blasted into the roof of the net. Then Terek won a penalty in one of their attacks, with Rybus converting it.
After such a rocking start the rivals did not ease off the pressure. What followed was a succession of quick end-to-end attacks. In one of the moves, Rybus broke down the right flank and fired across. Guilherme tried to stop it but deflected the ball into the far corner.
Lokomotiv were on top for the rest of the half, but Terek’s goalkeeper was in great form that day. First he cleared the ball after Samedov’s attempt from approximately eleven meters’ distance. Later on, while lying on the ground the goalie somehow denied both Miranchuk and Pejcinovic shooting at him from a close range.
In the second half things changed totally. The entire 45 minutes passed without a single chance created by either side. It didn’t help that Lokomotiv coaches fielded Henty, Skuletic and Ignatyev. Loko failed to find a way to Terek’s goal. The hosts possessed the ball and came out victorious.
ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Football Championship. Gameweek 19
Terek - Lokomotiv - 2:1 (2:1)
Goals scored: Samedov, 4 (1:0). Rybus, 8 (penalty) (1:1). Guilherme, 33 (own goal) (2:1)
Terek: Gorodov, Rodolfo, Rybus, Aissati, Semyonov, Ivanov, Kuzyayev, Piriz (Varken, 81), Wilkshire, Grozav (Mbengue, 82), Mitrishev (Lebedenko, 78)
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Denisov, Mykhalyk, Durica, Pejcinovic, Barinov (Skuletic, 87), Tarasov, Samedov, Kasaev (Ignatyev, 65), Kolomeytsev (Henty, 57), Miranchuk
Bookings: Pejcinovic, 66. Barinov, 84. Wilkshire, 89
Referee: Alexander Egorov (Saransk)
6 March. Grozny, Akhmat-Arena stadium
