Battle In Cherkizovo

Lokomotiv and Krasnodar have produced a incredibly thrilling performance.

In the wake of the game against Krasnodar, Lokomotiv prepared a lot of surprizes for the fans. One of them was a signing session with Ari. People lined up to see the player and receive a signed card from his hands.

Secondly, an installation artwork devoted to Lokomotiv's 95th anniversary was set up on the square in front of the stadium for everyone to take pictures. "I like the idea with the artwork, - says Nikolay, a long-time Lokomotiv supporter. - It will be great if it will stay here for the next fixture with Spartak."

But the fans' favourite was the rugby zone where the Lokomotiv rugby club players were conducting master-classes and playing tug of war with the fans. Here one could feel bright emotions and warm up before the game...

...Which proved to be really hot! In the 4th minute Wanderson tested Guilherme with a spectacular bicycle kick and could have scored be it not for the keeper's outstanding skills. Krasnodar were extremely active early in the game and even pushed Lokomotiv back to their goal.

However, soon Lokomotiv managed to shake off the intrusive opposition and construct a counter-attack that had to be finished off by Maicon. Marques meant driving the ball into the far corner but wasn't precise. Anyway, Loko had their chance soon: on 35 minutes Ignatyev found himself all alone in the box with the ball, and opened the score.

The dawn of the second half proved decisive. On 56 minutes the Railwaymen left Mamaev all alone at the far post, and on 64 - failed to check Wanderson on the edge of the box. The Bulls used both chances.

Lokomotiv sent all men ahead and spent the rest of the second half at Krasnodar's third. However, neither Corluka's move ahead, nor Guilherme's raid to the box, nor his header helped save the team.

Lokomotiv have played one of their best games this season but lost. On Saturday Cherkizovo is hosting a derby against Spartak.

ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Championship. Gameweek 19.

Lokomotiv - Krasnodar - 1:2 (1:0)
Goals: Ignatyev, 35 (1:0). Mamaev, 56 (1:1). Wanderson, 64 (1:2)

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Yanbaev, Kverkvelia, Ćorluka, Pejčinović, V. Denisov, I. Denisov, Fernandes, Miranchuk, Ignatyev (Kolomeytsev, 62), Maicon.
Krasnodar: Sinitsyn, Kaleshin, Granqvist, Naldo, Ramírez, Shishkin, Gazinskiy, Pereyra (Kaboré, 65), Zhigulyov (Mamayev, 55), Claesson (Okriashvili, 73), Wánderson.
Yellow cards: Sinitsyn, 90+5.
Referees: Meshkov (Dmitrov), Bogach (Lyubertsy), Petrosyan (Bronnitsy).
13 March 2017. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium.