Hard-Earned Victory

Compared to the game against Amkar Leonid Kuchuk changed half of the team. The entire left flank was under the jurisdiction of Vitaliy Denisov and Victor Obinna, while the long-time bencher Roman Pavlyuchenko was installed in the central forward position. Vedran Corluka and Mbark Boussoufa, suspended during the previous weekend, were back on the pitch.

Rubin was better in the ball possession in the first minutes but never used it to their benefit. By the mid-half the Railwaymen felt themselves comfortable enough to reclaim the ball and level in possession.

With Lokomotiv building pressure, Rubin started making mistakes allowing the visitors to create dangers. In one episode Boussoufa made an interception very close to the goal and took a shot but Ryzhikov footed it away.

Rubin responded soon with the strikes by Karadeniz and Natcho but both times their attempts were blocked by our defenders.

In the second half Lokomotiv employed a more attacking tactics. Freshman Maicon continued tearing Rubin's defence on his flank, while Pavlyuchenko and Boussoufa increased speeds in the centre. Soon it gave fruit.

In the 52nd minute Dmitry Tarasov played a classic #10 with his perfect lay-off pass to Roman Pavlyuchenko in the box. SuperPav lost the marker, rounded the keeper and rolled the ball goalwards scoring an opener. What a spectacular attack!

Rubin needed just eight minutes to level the score. The Railwaymen allowed Prudnikov pass to Ryazantsev on the edge of the area and the midfielder rifled. Obscured by his own defenders, Iliya Abayev couldn't save.

But this goal served to the benefit of the Railwaymen who had a momentum to push harder. The goal-scorer Pavlyuchenko was changed for Dame N'Doye who immediately occupied himself with searching for an opportunity. In one episode, the Senegalese striker produced a great long-range shot making Ryzhikov demonstrate his best skill. Later, Maicon carried the ball into the box, past a defender and took a shot from a difficult position but unsuccessfully.

Rubin only responded with more long-range shots but Abayev saw no real challenge in stopping them.

Six minutes before the final whistle, there came a winner. Boussoufa ran up the right flank, worked the ball to his left foot and crossed to the box where N'Doye made a smart chip-shot that left Ryzhikov gazing the ball away.

Lokomotiv remain undefeated during seven weekends in a row now, with 3 points in Kazan allowing them to remain second in the table.

Rubin - Lokomotiv 1:2 (0:0)

Goals: Pavlyuchenko, 52 (0:1). Ryazantsev, 60 (1:1). N'Doye, 84 (1:2).

Rubin: Ryzhikov, Kuzmin, Navas, Marcano (Kverkvelia, 88), Mawinga, M'Vila, Natcho, Torbinskiy (Prudnikov, 54), Vakaso (Yeryomenko, 57), Ryazantsev, Karadeniz.

Lokomotiv: Abayev, Yanbayev, Corluka, Durica, Denisov, Diarra (Tigorev, 72), Tarasov, Boussoufa, Samedov, Obinna (Maicon, 46), Pavlyuchenko (N'Doye, 63).

Yellow card: Diarra, 71.

Referee: Sergey Ivanov (Rostov-on-Don).

October 27. Kazan. "Tsentralniy" Stadium.