Juniors Yield Against Zenit
Lokomotiv youth team lost their Russian League opening fixture against Zenit.
The current title holders kicked off the new season with an away game in Saint Petersburg where the squad had arrived comfortably and fast by the Sapsan train. Lokomotiv line-up featured two new names. Miroslav Lobantsev, who had spent the previous year on loan in Samara, came on to assume goalkeeping duties. The other one was the second team newcomer Nikolay Poyarkov debuting in defence.
Zenit opened the score early on through a simple link-up move: a ball out wide, a pass into space and a shot by Andreyev. Lokomotiv immediately recovered possession and started to make inroads up front. 12 minutes of this kind of pressure delivered the result. Galadzhan dribbled down the wing, played the ball inside and was quick enough to pick up the rebound and stake his claim in the next race for the Youth League’s best striker.
The second half was played with much more pace but turned out less eventful. Lokomotiv attacked narrowly through the centre. Zenit answered with lateral runs but rarely threatened. The outcome of the match was settled two minutes from the finish by Yuriy Kozlov who burst down the middle and slotted home inside the far post.
The new race begins for Lokomotiv juniors with an away loss.
ROSGOSSTRAKH Youth Football Championship of Russia. Gameweek 1
Zenit-Lokomotiv - 2:1 (1:1)
Goals scored: Andreyev, 14 (0:1). Galadzhan, 26 (1:1). Kozlov, 88 (2:1)
Zenit: Rudakov, Penchikov, Mareyev (S.Ivanov, 76), Shalimov, Krugovoy, Kotov, Gorulyov, Pletnyov (Kirillov, 61), Andreyev (Kozlov, 81), Makeyev, Nekrasov (Krapukhin, 76)
Lokomotiv: Lobantsev, Poyarkov (Tugarev, 59), Lapshov (Samokhvalov, 63), Vulfov, Rakhmonov, Kulikov, Galanin, Dorofeev (Kalachevskiy, 64 (Fereferov, 78)), Rybchinskiy (Chikanchi, 61), Galadzhan (Rubtsov, 74), Lysov
Bookings: Vulfov, 43. Rybchinskiy, 49. Krapukhin, 78
29 July. Saint Petersburg, Petrovsky MSA