Like Cup Final Again

Lokomotiv and Ural entertained us with yet another beautiful game of football as exciting as the Russian Cup final we had enjoyed a few weeks earlier.

On the morning of the matchday, the team went for a walk around the city - but first the coaches and players congratulated Igor Denisov who turned 33. The manager wished Igor to win many more games as to someone with the highest aspirations .

The events of the Cup Final were the staple of conversations until the very kick-off. However, Ari was not traveling to Yekaterinburg. And the Ural President Grigoriy Ivanov made it clear saying that in the upcoming meeting he would have no more of this. To reiterate the friendly relations between the clubs, and as a gift to his recent 70th birthday, Ivanov presented Yuriy Syomin with a backgammon set.
The beginning of the match was equally peaceful. Lokomotiv created the first chance on 30 minutes off a high cross for Maicon at the far post. Unfortunately, the Brazilian failed to convert it for us.

The cross itself was delivered by Anton Miranchuk, who was handed a starting role alongside his twin brother Aleksey for the first time ever. Together the Miranchuks looked very well keeping the ball in Ural's final third. And the twins were often fouled at.

Following one of those offences, Fernandes made a cross for Pejcinovic who headed the ball home. Shortly before the halftime whistle, Manu scored one himself. Ignatiev was tripped inside the penalty pox, so the Portugal international stepped to the spot and deftly placed the ball in the net.

In the second half Lokomotiv maintained their pace and looked real good inside the first ten minutes. Ural snatched the initiative when Anton Miranchuk drew his second yellow card for diving.

The hosts loaded the box, whipping crosses in, high and low. Kverkvelia managed to ward off the danger most of the time, but the shot from Lungu proved too much for our defender. The ball broke off Solomon and pinged right into the net.
In the late minutes Ural fiercely attacked our goal. Maicon had a chance to kill them on a break when Barinov put him clean through with only Arapov to beat, but the Brazil international failed to do so - twice. A few minutes later Bikfalvi almost leveled matters when he hit the angle of the woodwork.

Lokomotiv managed to withstand the onslaught. In a high mood the team are getting ready for the season’s closing game with Zenit.

ROSSGOSSTRAKH Russian Championship. Gameweek 29

Ural – Lokomotiv - 1:2 (0:2)
Goals: Pejcinovic, 33 (0:1). Fernandes, 44 (penalty) (0:2). Kverkvelia, 79 (own goal) (1:2)

Ural: Arapov, Dantsev, Balazic, Pavlenko, Dimitrov, Novikov, Manucharyan (Lungu, 46), Yemelyanov, Ilyin, Kulakov, Bikfalvi
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Ignatyev, Kverkvelia, Mykhalyk (Margasov, 88), Pejcinovic, Tarasov, I.Denisov, Fernandes (Kolomeytsev, 95), Al.Miranchuk (Barinov, 80), An.Miranchuk, Maicon
Bookings: Ant.Miranchuk, 55. Lungu, 57. Al.Miranchuk, 64. Ilyin, 84. Tarasov, 94
Expulsion: Ant.Miranchuk, 62
Referee: Aleksey Bezborodov (Saint Petersburg)
17 May 2017. Yekaterinburg, SBK-Bank Arena