Lost To Zenit

Slaven Bilic made two changes in the starting 11 as compared to the last Gameweek's fixture against Terek. Instead of the suspended Alexander Samedov and team-mate Victor Obinna the Croatian coach picked Maxim Grigoriev and Felipe Caicedo.

The game started off in a good tempo, with both teams swinging from defence to attack. The first opportunity was created in the 6th minute when Renat Yanbaev passed to N'Doye from the right wing. The forward's strike was just a bit inaccurate. Zenit responded immediately: Hulk crossed into the box finding Shirokov whose header went wide.

Alas, Zenit's next attack turned fruitful. Hulk passed to Kerzhakov, Alexander stroke but Guilherme parried the shot. Nevertheless, Faizulin got to the ball first and sent it to the back of the net.

The following 20 minutes were relatively calm, without dead opportunities. But by the half time Lokomotiv'd had several chances. The biggest opportunity emerged in the 40th minute when Vitaly Denisov lost his marker Anyukov on the left flank and centered to Dmitry Torbinsky who rolled on to Caicedo. The Equadorian striker shot from a dead point but failed to find a net.

In the beginning of the second half Lokomotiv managed another dangerous attack. In the 55th minute Glushakov fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box, and Zenit's Baburin needed all his skill to stop it.

An hour into the game, Slaven Bilic made a double substitution. Roman Pavlyuchenko and Victor Obinna ran to refresh attack for Grigoriev and Caicedo.

In the 71st minute Lokomotiv had another chance. Denisov was active on his flank again, centered to Pavlyuchenko who passed on to N'Doye but the Senegalese headed a bit over the crossbar.

Five minutes later Zenit could have doubled the lead following Hulk's shot but Guilherme saved. Loko's counterattack was even more promising. Obinna rounded Hubocan and passed to Pavlyuchenko. Roman shot and hit the post, but the ball went outside the field.

In the extra time Lokomotiv tried to get through Zenit's defence. Corluka played a good long ball to Baburin's box, Pavlyuchenko got it in the air but failed to head it on to N'Doye.

Lokomotiv - Zenit 0:1 (0:1)

Goal: Faizulin, 16.

Lokomoiv: Guilherme, Corluka, Durica, Vitaly Denisov, Yanbaev (Shishkin, 81), Grigoriev (Obinna, 62), Glushakov, Torbinsky, Tigorev, Caicedo (Pavlyuchenko, 62), N'Doye.

Zenit: Baburin, Anyukov, Bruno Alves (Lombaerts, 85), Netu, Hubocan, Shirokov (Semak, 90), Zyryanov, Faizulin, Igor Denisov, Kerzhakov (Danni, 68), Hulk.

Yellow card: Durica, 23.

Referee: Alexey Eskov (Moscow).

April 13. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium. 17 016 spectators.