Ignatiev’s phenomenal game, Miranchuk’s goal and a debut for Mukhin. Lokomotiv beat Rubin
Lokomotiv was preparing for the last home match of the year with a squad problems. Kulikov and Magkeev each got their fourth yellow card of the season against Akhmat, Ze Luis injured his foot in the game against Salzburg. Nevertheless, Krychowiak returned to the squad and formed a partnership with Mukhin in the center of the pitch. This was the first start for Max for the senior team and he did well.
Lokomotiv started badly. Already in the third minute, In-beom Hwang calmly sprinted from the central circle to the penalty area, shifted slightly to the left and powerfully shot. The ball swung in front of Guilherme and ended up in goal.
Rubin created another chance three minutes later. Ignatiev was alone in the center of the penalty area, the cross comes in, but Ivan’s header went over the crossbar. Ignatiev had another good opportunity a few moments later after an unsuccessful clearance from Rybus - the ball went near the post.
With that, Rubin's ten-minute activity ended, and Lokomotiv seized the initiative. Lisakovich and Miranchuk played a one-two near the edge of the box and delivered the ball to the right to Krychowiak. Grzegorz shot into the near corner - Medvedev saved it.
Medvedev made a mistake in the 18th minute. After Miranchuk's free kick, Medvedev let the ball out of his hands, and Ignatiev finished it off into the net.
Two minutes later Vlad could have scored another. Miranchuk found Ignatiev in the penalty area, but Vlad was unable to convert the chance. Three minutes later, Lisakovich had a good moment. Zhivoglyadov made a cross into the box and Vitali was first on the ball - the header went straight at the keeper.
In the middle of the half, Abildgaard saved Medvedev - the defender was there at the near post when Rybus took a free kick from an acute angle. Before the referee blew the whistle for a break, Miranchuk and Corluka could have scored, but Anton shot from a free kick went over the crossbar and Vedran’s header hit the bar after a corner.
During the break, Lokomotiv women’s team came on the pitch and got their awards. The girls finished the season in second place and received silver medals. On Sunday they will face CSKA in the Russian Cup final.
Before the game resumed, Leonid Slutskiy asked his players to avoid making unnecessary fouls. The referee was quite strict in the first half and wasn’t shy to give out yellow cards, so a few Rubin players were hanging on the yellow cards. Two minutes after the start of the half, Ivan Ignatiev forgot about the coach's instructions. Rubin forward made a tough foul on Corluka and left the team down to ten men.
Lokomotiv immediately took the ball and began to push hard. The most dangerous of all was Ignatiev, who had a phenomenal game. First, Vlad almost scored after the cross from Krychowiak, and then he shot from the edge of the box - Medvedev did well to save the shot.
Rubin didn’t just sit back and had a few dangerous counterattacks. Makarov got the ball in the penalty area, dribbled past Guilherme and shot in the empty goal, but Murilo appeared on the goal line and cleared the ball.
Ignatiev earned a penalty in the 68th minute. After another cross into the penalty area, Medvedev did not reach the ball and knocked down Vlad. Anton Miranchuk gave goalkeeper no chance - 2:1.
Lokomotiv did not slow down and scored the third goal at the end of the match. Miranchuk took the corner, Lisakovich headed the ball to the far post, and Ignatiev finished the chance from a close range.
Lokomotiv brought the unbeaten run against Rubin to ten matches and moved up to fifth place.
TINKOFF Russian Premier League. Gameweek 17
Lokomotiv - Rubin - 3:1 (1:1)
Goals: In-beom Hwang, 3 (0:1). V. Ignatiev, 18 (1:1). Miranchuk, 69 (pen) (2:1). V. Ignatiev, 86 (3:1)
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Zhivoglyadov, Corluka, Rybus, Krychowiak, M. Mukhin, V. Ignatiev, Miranchuk (Iosifov, 88), Kamano (Eder, 60), Lisakovich (Titkov, 88)
Rubin: Medvedev, Merkulov, Starfelt, Begic, Zotov, In-beom Hwang (Jevtic, 74), Abildgaard, Zuev (Kvaratskhelia, 68), Shatov, Makarov, I. Ignatiev
Bookings: M. Mukhin, 5. Ignatiev, 24. Zuev, 27. Zotov, 30. Krychowiak, 37. Medvedev, 69. Murilo, 73. Lisakovich, 78
Sending off: I. Ignatiev, 48
Referee: Sergey Karasev (Moscow)
December 5, 2020. Moscow, RZD Arena.
