Moscow Derby Draw

Lokomotiv and Dynamo have drawn in a derby of Gameweek 3 of the Russian Football Championship.

August’s first Sunday was rich in events and celebrations: a Railway Worker’s Day, the season’s first game in Cherkizovo, a solemn ceremony that opened a plaque on the steam engine in front of the stadium to mark the win of 2015 Russian Cup. The festive mood carried on as far as the nearest underground exits, the space around swarming with the fans in green T-shirts. Some of them would soon spread out a congratulation banner across the South Stand. The weather was gorgeous. Music and general elation filled the air.

The memorial plaque was opened by Jan Durica and the captains of the U-16 and U-14 teams who had won the title of Russian champions this year. After the opening, Jan signed autographs and posed for selfies with all those asking for one. In half-time he also paid a visit to the Family Area to see the Railwaymen’s smallest fans. The section has been renovated for the season, becoming twice as spacious with new entertainment zones and amusements.

The match started at a relatively high pace. At the beginning the rivals were slightly wary. Skuletic and Kasaev’s incisive moves gave the game extra edge, but Dynamo’s defence was reliable. Nearing the end of the first half, the guests ‘fired’. First, Guilherme cleared two crosses coming from Valbuena and Zhirkov, but a few minutes later Morozov eventually sent in an opener.

The teams parted for the break, while the pitch filled with the participants of yet another celebration. It was time to greet the boys from the Lokomotiv academy who had won the international Lokoball-Russian Railways-2015 festival earlier that day, beating the tournament’s two-time champions PAOK (Greece).

On 60 minutes it was the red-green fans to go wild. Corluka smashed the ball from close range right into the net, finishing Samedov’s assist. After the equalizer, the Railroaders started pushing forward even more vigorously. Miranchuk, Kasaev and Maicon had good chances. Dynamo responded with dangerous raids and attempts. The game became brisk and intense.
However, that did not change the scoreline which remained the same until the whistle. Moscow derby ended in a draw.

Russian Football Championship. Gameweek 3

Lokomotiv - Dynamo 1:1 (0:1)
Goals scored: Morozov, 44 (0:1). Corluka, 61 (1:1)

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Shishkin, Corluka, Pejcinovic, Denisov, Kolomeytsev (Ndinga, 65), Tarasov, Boussoufa (Miranchuk, 46), Samedov, Kasaev, Skuletic (Maicon, 59).
Dynamo: Gabulov, Dyakov, Hubochan, Kozlov, Morozov (Büttner, 82), Denisov, Zhirkov, Zobnin, Sosnin (Obolskiy, 58), Valbuena, Ionov
Bookings: Kasaev, 80. Valbuena, 80.
Referee: Sergey Karasev (Moscow)
August 2, Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium.