Lokomotiv Defeat Hebei

Lokomotiv came out on top over FC Hebei China Fortune in a friendly held during our Spanish camp.

Mere 15 minutes after finishing the game with Beijing, the Lokomotiv side hit the playground again. The team lined up to face Hebei were nearly all the regular XI - unlike the selection for the previous match, which looked rather experimental with Lysov and Barinov deployed at centre-back.

By the 15th minute Lokomotiv could have scored two or even three. The Railwaymen had three absolute chances, but Hebei keeper Cheng Yang showed extraordinary form saving two certain goals on the bounce. First, Maicon headed in the opposite direction, right after came his colleague with a slick chip over – neither landed in the net.

Nevertheless, the Lokomotiv's creative advances eventually yielded result. In the middle of the half Miranchuk, Maicon and Fernandes combined again sending Hebei defence into disarray. Getting almost to the goal-line, Aleksey slotted it home. The Chinese side had the possibility to pull back in three minutes, when Lavezzi earned a penalty. Aloisio stepped to the spot, but Guilherme gave him no chance.

In the second half Lokomotiv settled down a bit yet did not lose control of the game. We could have notched more - first through Kolomeytsev who was put clean through one-on-one by Miranchuk, then through Skuletic. Both times Cheng Yang demonstrated outstanding skills.

The Railwaymen had no trouble with holding the score till the end and carried the day 1:0.

Friendly match

Lokomotiv – Hebei China Fortune - 1:0 (1:0)
Goals scored: Miranchuk, 24 (1:0)

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Yanbaev, Mykhalyk, Corluka, Pejcinovic, V.Denisov, I.Denisov, Kolomeytsev, Fernandes, Al.Miranchuk, Maicon (Skuletic, 78)
Hebei: Cheng Yang, Zhao M, Ren Hang, Ding Haifeng, Yuhao Zhao, Zhang Chendong, Zhao, Aloisio, Lavezzi, Bo Hang Ying, Hernanes
Penalty missed: Aloisio, 27
18 February 2017. Spain, Marbella. Marbella Football Centre.