Hard draw

In the first half, Lokomotiv was nearly the only team on the pitch. Another proof to that is the first half stats: out of 10 goal attempts 5 were actually on target, while Kuban’s all 5 goal attempts were off the target.

An intensive five-minute period in the middle of the first half could have upset the southerners three times. First, Felipe Caicedo rounded a defender in his own box and shot but keeper Belenov saved his team. Four minutes later the Equadorian international made an impressive breakaway running one-on-one with the keeper but Belenov was okay taking the ball right from Caicedo’s legs. In the 24th minute Roman Shishkin sent the ball towards an upper corner of the goal but Belenov seemed to be all around the place clearing this tremendously difficult shot.

Fifteen minutes later it was Guilherme’s turn to step in, but Kuban’s forward Lacina Traore missed his chance. Just a minute later the Ivorian again had an opportunity to score but headed the ball right into a post.

In the last five minutes of the half Loko took the initiative again. Victor Obinna’s thrashing strike was stopped by a defender in a sliding tackle.

In the beginning of the second half Guilherme had some job to do, and did it perfectly. Pizelli received the ball from Traore and shot from about the spot but the Brazilian keeper saved his team.

Loko’s response resulted in a goal. Roman Pavlyuchenko received a long ball from the back, broke away from defender Armash and netted the opener.

Shortly after this Jose Couceiro made a double substitution: the coach threw in Maicon and Ignatiev instead of Pavlyuchenko and Obinna.

In the 71st minute Ignatiev was in a position to score. Shishkin played a one-two with Glushakov and then crossed to Ignatiev but the midfielder failed to net, sending the ball above the bar.

Just three minutes later Kuban equalized. Zapater fouled 22 metres away from goal. Kuban was given a free kick and Pizelli netted a swirling ball.

Soon after that Kuban’s head coach Dan Petrescu was shown a red card for exceedingly emotional behaviour.

The last fifteen minutes were a stand-off where both could have scored but the game resulted in a draw.

Kuban - Lokomotiv 1:1 (0:0)

Goals: Pavlyuchenko, 61 - 0:1. Pizelli, 74 - 1:1.

Kuban: Belenov, Armash, Kozlov, Zelao, Lolo, Kulik (Urena, 64), Tlisov, Ionov (Tsoraev, 72), Bucur, Traoré, Pizelli (Fidler, 83).

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Burlak, Shishkin, Eschenko, Belyaev, Zapater (Torbinsky, 79), Glushakov, Ozdoev, Obinna (Maicon, 62), Pavlyuchenko (Ignatiev, 62), Caicedo.

Yellow cards: Zelao, 44. Pavlyuchenko, 44. Lolo, 65. Bukur, 90.

Referee: Stanislav Sukhina (Malakhovka).

14 April. Krasnodar. Kuban Stadium. 18 354 spectators.