Impressive game without result

Lokomotiv had taken the initiative since the referee whistle. During first minutes of the match railwaymen had conducted several dangerous flanking attacks. On fifth minute it was the first moment near Proto`s goal. Zapater passed the ball by his heel to Maicon, who kicked in one touch – Belgian goalkeeper fished out the ball from the goal`s corner.  

Despite the advantage, Lokomotiv missed the goal first, as it was and in the previous match of the UEFA Europa League in Graz. Argentinean striker of Anderlecht Matias Suarez had shown his best skills. The top scorer of Brussel`s team skillfully adjusted to the ball after pass from Kanu and hit the target by the kick after turn.

Missed goal didn`t demoralize railwaymen, and on 17th minute Lokomotiv had a chance to equalize. Taras Burlak had won the struggle in the air after the corner and heavily kicked – Proto returned a ball from the goal line.

On the 34th minute unanimous “Oooh” had flown above the tribunes. Denis Glushakov beautifully passed the ball to Viktor Obinna, who was one on one with Proto. Nigerian forward decided to kick to the top corner of the goal, but missed for a few centimeters. However the referee had detected the offside. 

Even more upsetting episode for railwaymen happened soon. In a struggle with Fernando Magomed Ozdoev was injured. Ozdoev, limping and had taken off one of his boots, went to the dressing room, escorted by doctors. In place of Ozdoev Jose Couceiro put on the pitch Dmitriy Loskov.

Before the half-time Lokomotiv could equalize at last. Zapater passed the ball to the penalty area, where Sychev, who was in a few centimeters from the goal line, made a head strike. Unfortunately the kick wasn`t good and ball missed.
  
Railwaymen started the second half even more actively than the first. In a period from 46th to 60th minutes several Lokomotiv players could score a goal. However the ball didn`t want to cross the goal line. And in a few moments ambiguous referee decisions helped to Anderlecht. For example, on 47th minute Maicon was knocked down by Proto in the penalty area. But the referee Matej Jug form Slovenia didn`t react on this episode. A few minutes after Sychev scored a goal, but referee detected the offside. However on TV screens it was obvious that Sychev wasn`t in offside.

After the whole cascade of missed moments the old football rule “if you miss your moments – you miss the goal” had worked out. On 71th minute Mbokani after free kick had jumped over Guilherme and scored the second goal of Anderlecht.

Trying to rescue the game, Jose Couceiro made a double substitution and put on the pitch Vladislav Ignatiev and Felipe Caicedo. However they hadn`t reversed the situation. Unfortunately Lokomotiv had lost, though team looked decently. Next match in the UEFA Europa League railwaymen will play on 20 October in Cherkizovo against Greek AEK. 

Lokomotiv - Anderlecht 0:2 (0:1)

Goals: Suarez, 11 (0:1). Mbokani, 71 (0:2).

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Burlak, Da Costa, Shishkin, Yanbaev (Ignatiev, 79), Zapater, Glushakov, Ozdoev (Loskov, 41), Sychev (Caicedo, 79), Obinna, Maicon.

Anderlecht: Proto, Khouyate, Safari, Juhasz, Wasilewski, Kanu, Kljestan, Gillet, Fernando (Mbokani, 60), Suarez.

Yellow cards: Wasilewski, 45. Shishkin, 61. Mbokani, 90.

Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia).

29 September. Moscow. Stadium Lokomotiv. 11495 spectators.