Cool and Sure!

Following the upset in Grozny where Lokomotiv lost to Rubin Kazan, Jose Couceiro made some changes in the starting team. Maxim Belyaev was installed in the centre of the defence instead of Manuel Da Costa, Andrey Eschenko in his first-ever game for Loko performed as a left back, and Vladislav Ignatiev moved to the right midfield.

The Railwaymen got off to a lively start and threatened CSKA’s keeper Chepchugov three times during the first 10 minutes. Felipe Caicedo carried the ball to the centre of the penalty box edge line and shot but missed the target. Then, Roman Pavlyuchenko bulleted the ball but Chepchugov saved his goal.

Anyway, Loko scored. In the 10th minute Dmitry Torbinsky’s wonderful tackle sent the ball to Pavlyuchenko who tripped to the edge of the box and shot. The ball bounced in front of the keeper and left him gazing it crossing the goal line.

Missing a goal on its home ground was not in CSKA’s plans, and the Army Men pushed hard to reverse the game. But Loko’s defence with Guilherme as the last man standing was ready for the attacks. CSKA was so much excited with storming Loko’s goal that they bared the rear and missed a counterattack. Shishkin got the ball on the right flank and played a high cross to the center of the box, a defender tried to clear but only headed to Pavlyuchenko whose bad shot turned out to be a superb pass to Felipe Caicedo who sent a winner into an empty net.

Pavlyuchenko could have scored a second goal in the 39th minute but the ball went straight into Chepchugov’s hands.

The second half started with a great save by Guilherme – the Brazilian keeper stretched out but stopped Alexey Berezutsky’s powerful shot.

CSKA put enormous pressure on the Railwaymen’s goal but Loko’s compact and reliable defence helped keep Guilherme’s premises intact. Moreover, Lokomotiv tried to puncture the Army Men’s backline. The biggest opportunity was in the 68th minute when Torbinsky, Ignatiev and Pavlyuchenko ran away three versus two but failed to make the final touch.

The ball possession for CSKA was quite high but this didn’t help them to create opportunities. In 81st minute Jan Durica substituted Andrey Eschenko. The Slovakian international’s first 2012 appearance was smooth and natural, and several times he stopped CSKA’s most dangerous man Seydou Doumbia. But even when an opponent managed to shoot on Loko’s goal Guilherme was there to stop the ball.

The Railwaymen steamed past the lines of the Army Men, leaving not a single doubt in its superiority. Lokomotiv secured the third place in the table and is now just one point behind the beaten CSKA.

CSKA – Lokomotiv 0:2 (0:2)

Goals: Pavlyuchenko, 10 (0:1). Caicedo, 34 (0:2).

CSKA: Chepchugov, Berezutski A., Berezutski V., Ignashevich, Shennikov, Dzagoev, Tosic, Musa (Sekou, 46), Wernbloom, Necid (Mamaev, 43), Doumbia.

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Eschenko (Durica, 81), Shishkin, Burlak, Belyaev, Torbinsky (Loskov, 89), Glushakov (Zapater, 67), Ignatiev, Ozdoev, Pavlyuchenko, Caicedo.

Yellow card: Eschenko, 62. Durica, 90.

Referee: Alexey Eskov (Moscow).

24 March. Moscow. Luzhniki Stadium. 13 000 spectators.