Nice And Confidently

Spartak - Lokomotiv had been the main teaser for the Russian fans weeks before the game. The tickets had been sold out which promised as much noise as at Metallica concert - but the Russian football authorities demonstrated they are definitely no rock fans. A day before the game, the Russian Football Union had ruled that FC Spartak had to be punished for their fans' hooligan actions during a cup clash in Yaroslavl days before. The RFU considered it an adequate punishment to hold two games without spectators.

The first danger in the game came in the second minute when Spartak's Dmitry Kombarov headed goalwards from within the box, but the defender lacked precision.

Unlike the hosts, Lokomotiv used their opportunity to the maximum. Tarasov made another great pass to Maicon who covered it from Parshivlyuk in the box, made the keeper run out onto him and passed to N'Doye who netted an opener.

Five minutes later, Pesyakov made a bad mistake trying to hold the ball, and Lokomotiv were not going to forgive him. Jan Durica's long ball could have become an easy target for the goalie but instead he failed to fix it. Alexander Samedov was cool sending the ball home to double the lead.

A dozen of minutes later Parshivlyuk set up for Movsisyan who scored. The full-back played a long ball to the box, Vedran Corluka and Ilya Abayev demonstrated misunderstanding which was smartly used by the striker who sent it home first touch.

But Lokomotiv wasn't going to stand on the edge if the slippery slope holding to the score. The Railwaymen continued attacking. In one episode, Tarasov received the ball from Maicon, worked it and took a shot but just wide.

Soon, Mbark Boussoufa set up for N'Doye. Lass Diarra reclaimed possession in midfield, passed to the Moroccan who centered to the box. The Senegalese forward headed a flyer but Pesyakov parried.

In the beginning of the second half Lokomotiv gave away possession but all Spartak could convert it to was two long-range shots that posed no threat.

Meanwhile, the Railwaymen were waiting for a chance. And another counterattack brought fruit. Vitaly Denisov passed to N'Doye in the box. The Senegalese shadowed the ball from Makeyev and rifled past Pesyakov scoring a winner.

Lokomotiv have beat Spartak in a six-pointer an pushed them back onto the third line in the table, now being the closest chaser of the leader Zenit.

Spartak - Lokomotiv 1:3 (1:2)

Goals: N'Doye, 7 (0:1). Samedov, 17 (0:2). Movsisyan, 27 (1:2). N'Doye, 77 (0:1).

Spartak: Pesyakov, Parshivlyuk, Dmitriy Kombarov, Makeyev, Joao Carlos, Costa, Rafael Carioca, McGeady (Ozbiliz, 46), Jurado (Yakovlev, 87), Glushakov, Movsisyan (Barrios, 70).

Lokomotiv: Abayev, Corluka, Durica, Denisov, Yanbayev, Boussoufa, Samedov, Tarasov (Tigorev, 85), Diarra, Maicon (Grigoryev, 74), N'Doye (Pavlyuchenko, 89).

Yellow cards: Jurado, 79.

Referee: Aleksey Nikolayev (Moscow)

November 3. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium.