Undeserved defeat

Lokomotiv dominated the field in the first half. The Railwaymen grabbed the initiative from the very beginning shifting the epicenter closer to Zenit’s box.

In the 10th minute Malafeev had to make the first save. Victor Obinna shot at goal from the close range but Zenit’s keeper deflected the ball with his legs.

The Railwaymen were constantly pressing Zenit and were putting up pressure at their goal. In the 33rd minute Slovak full-back Tomas Hubocan hanballed in the box to give away a penalty. Roman Pavlyuchenko decided to strike but failed to outfox Malafeev who jumped to where the ball went and stopped it.
 
Late into the first half Roman Shishkin had a great opportunity to score. The referee awarded Loko a direct free kick 35 metres away from the goal and Shishkin sent the ball right into the top corner but Malafeev saved his team.

After the half-time, Shishkin caused even more troubles to Zenit’s defence. First, Loko’s right defender carried the ball through his entire flank and crossed to the box but there was no one to kick the ball home. And later, Shishkin took Caicedo for a partner. The Equadorian international passed back to Shishkin who was going to score but Malafeev managed to clear the very last moment.

An hour into the game, Caicedo himself carried the ball across half of the pitch but Zenit’s defender managed to clear it close to his box.

Loko was pressing the opponent but lost concentration just for a second – time just enough for Zenit to score. In the 75th minute the team from St Petersburg played a long corner, the ball went to Roman Shirokov who scored the winner.

This illogical goal didn’t break the Railwaymen who kept on fighting. In the 85th minute another Loko’s attack ended up in a dangerous free kick near Zenit’s goal. Felipe Caicedo drilled his shot above the wall but also above the goal.

Two minutes before the end of the second half Jose Couceiro made a double substitution, letting out Vladislav Ignatiev and Dmitry Sychev to enhance the attacking potential.

Alas, the Railwaymen didn’t manage to equalize. It was a bitter defeat for our team that did not at all deserve it.

Lokomotiv – Zenit 0:1 (0:0)

Goal scored: Shirokov, 75.

Penalty missed: Pavlyuchenko, 33.

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Burlak, Belyaev, Shishkin, Yanbaev (Ignatiev, 88), Zapater, Glushakov (Sychev, 88), Pavlyuchenko (Torbinsky, 70), Ozdoev, Obinna, Caicedo.
 
Zenit: Malafeev, Anyukov, Lombaerts, Criscito, Hubocan, Shirokov, Zyryanov, Huszti (Arshavin, 46), Denisov, Bystrov, Kerzhakov.

Yellow cards: Malafeev, 89.

Referee: Edouard Maliy (Volgograd).

7 April. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium. 15814 spectators.