Derby Draw

 

On the matchday, Lokomotiv presented a versatile St Patrick's Day themed entertainment programme. Everyone could demonstrate their skills in a freestyle competition featuring children as well as grown-ups. 

 

Lokomotiv rugby team made their own show a tradition. Visitors were free to test their marksmanship skill, contact-free rugby, and the fans' favourite - tug of war against the rugby players. 

 

A very special feature that day was the Irish national sports - Gaelic football which resembles rugby - both sports feature H-shape goals and 60-minute matches. Everyone could try to play, and seemed to adore it!

 

Irish band Streams of Whiskey were there to entertain the guests and bring a piece of Ireland to Moscow. By the way, to properly celebrate St Patrick's Day one should wear all-green.The Lokomotiv crowd were wearing green, following the club's call.

 

The Railwaymen's celebrity supporter Sergey Svetlakov made the first touch of the ball in the game. And he, too, was wearing green like our team.

 

One of the signs of a good derby is a sold-out stadium. And Cherkizovo was full. The spirit of the game resonated to that of the stands. Both teams paid much attention to defence but were not at all going to park a bus. By the 3rd minute the Railroaders have set up several promising attacks and earned three corner kicks. However, it was Spartak who created first real chance. Fernando had a go at the goal, Guilherme stopped the ball but didn't claim it - fortunately, Corluka was there to check Samedov who was ready to take the opportunity.

Alexander could have scored in the middle of the first half when Zhano feinted a defender and centered the ball. Samedov failed to score with first touch , and the defenders blocked the second attempt.

 

Lokomotiv were again enjoying the outstanding performance of Ari who seems to have a key to Spartak's defence. Prior to this game, the Brazilian had scored six goals and made three assists in six appearances against the former team, and his seventh goal was coming. In the 41st minute Ari found a no-miss position in the box behind defender Kutepov and headed it home!

 

Spartak took the ball under their control early in the second half and quickly capitalized on the possession. Promes found space in the box converting Ze Luis's assist. 

 

After the goal Spartak built up pressure. However, Lokomotiv withstood the offinsives and leveled play. Miranchuk had had a great opportunity when he dribbled past two defenders, foxed the third and took a shot but the ball  made a ricochet and went off the post.

The teams fought hard until the final whistle, saw several yellow cards but never scored a winner. The Moscow derrby ended in a draw.

 

 

Lokomotiv - Spartak - 1:1 (1:0)

Goals: Ari, 41 (1:0). Promes, 53 (1:1)

 

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Ignatyev, Kverkvelia, Corluka (Pejcinovic, 46), Mykhalyk, I. Denisov, Tarasov (Barinov, 61), Fernandes (Maicon, 75), Al. Miranchuk, Ari.

Spartak: Rebrov, Kombarov, Tasci, Kutepov, Yeshchenko, Zobnin, Ananidze (Popov, 68), Samedov, Fernando, Promes, Ze Luis.

Bookings: Fernando, 29. Ignatyev, 34. Fernandes, 72. Yeshchenko, 78. Ari, 83.

Referee: Mikhail Vilkov (Nizhniy Novgorod)

March 18, 2017. Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium.