Draw in Last Seconds

Lokomotiv are held to a draw in the match against Dynamo Moscow in Gameweek 17 of the ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Championship.

Following the clash with Sporting, our managers did everything possible to help the team leave that game behind, distract from the negative emotions and focus on the different contest. There had been many changes to Lokomotiv's opening XI over the recent period, most of them affecting the back lines. Some combos had been experimental, and therefore it was interesting to find out whom Igor Cherevchenko and his fellow-coaches selected this time. Mykhalyk and Corluka started in the centre of defense, while Yanbaev with Denisov played wide.

During the first 45 minutes, the game looked rather slow. The struggle was mainly concentrated in the middle of the pitch. Lokomotiv tried to deliver the ball to Niasse through long passes. Dynamo’s opportunities were limited to set pieces. With this kind of play, it seemed the rivals would part with nil on both sides at half-time. However, closer to the period’s end Ionov found himself clean on goal and was taken down by Guilherme. The referee gave a penalty, and Dyakov converted it sending our keeper the wrong way. As usual, Loko built pressure eager to equalize. There was the shot unleashed by Ndinga, Samedov’s wide pass, Ndinga again bursting into the box… The score remained the same until the interval.

But in the very first attack of the second half, Lokomotiv pulled back. Niasse ran up to the area, passed the ball to Samedov - and Alexander turned in a clinical finish into the far corner. Action intensified. The pace increased, the referee blew the whistle more often. There was a spell when the Railwaymen were virtually pinning the adversary all the way back. By the 70th minute, we could have made it at least 1:3 shooting inches wide of the post or hitting it.

That night, Niasse produced his second assist when he put the ball on the foot of Maicon in the box, who had come on as sub. The Brazilian didn’t miss.

While Lokomotiv definitely could have increased the lead, in the injury time Dynamo managed to draw it level. Dyakov scored his second goal off a corner kick.

ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Football Championship, Gameweek 17

Dynamo - Lokomotiv - 2:2 (1:0)
Goals scored: Dyakov, 35 (penalty) (1:0). Samedov, 49 (1:1). Maicon, 76 (1:2). Dyakov, 93 (2:2)

Dynamo: Gabulov, Kozlov, Gubochan, Dyakov, Morozov (Obolskiy, 81), Sosnin, Tashayev, Zobnin, Zhirkov, Ionov, Pogrednyak (Kuzmin, 65)
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Denisov, Corluka, Mykhalyk, Yanbaev, Tarasov (Miranchuk, 46), Ndinga, Samedov, Kasaev (Maicon, 65), Kolomeytsev, Niasse, 46
Bookings: Sosnin, 12. Guilherme, 32. Zhirkov, 90
Referee: Aleksey Yeskov (Moscow)
30 November. Khimki, Stadium Khimki Arena