Lokomotiv is getting closer to departure from the RPL.
Lokomotiv this season is mired in scandals, incomprehensible appointments and layoffs that logically followed them. It got to the point that Loko came up to the derby with Spartak in 14th place in the standings. Only one point to the direct relegation zone.
Before the meeting with the Red-Whites, it was not entirely clear how Andrey Fedorov’s team could create problems for Guillermo Abascal’s gang. The numbers also showed that Loko had a lot of chances. Muscovites have managed to lose the last four matches at home, while Spartak has not lost at all in the last 10 matches. Abascal led his team to second place in the RPL. Yes, and in terms of the game, perhaps, it is Spartak that is the main competitor of the leading Zenit. Unless, of course, we can talk about competition with St. Petersburg.
In general, a lot spoke in favor of the Red-Whites, but Loko had the fact that they really had nowhere to retreat. Of course, we can hope for a restart during the winter break, a strengthening of the roster, the arrival of Mikhail Galaktionov as a coach, but if we give away all the points now, then in the spring there may already be nothing to catch.
Wild bad luck “Spartacus”
As for the starting lineups, we did not see any big surprises from either Fedorov or Abaskal. One can only note the absence of Alexander Sobolev at the base, in whose place Shamar Nicholson, who gained good shape, entered the field. It was the Jamaican striker who became the protagonist of the beginning of the match. At the 5th minute of the first half, Khlusevich famously gave Shamar into the penalty area, he abruptly left Barinov and, from the left, with all his might, loaded Khudyakov’s goal into the crossbar. And a minute later, the same Nicholson burst into the penalty area and shot dangerously, but this time Barinov averted the threat.
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“Spartak” completely owned the advantage, and owned not just the territory, but regularly created the most dangerous moments. In the 9th minute, Denisov fired from afar and Khudyakov had to jump to pull the ball out. Less than a minute later, Loko was again saved by the crossbar. This time, Anton Zinkovsky famously kissed from the left. Wild bad luck wards Abaskal in the first 10 minutes of the meeting.
Photo: © Denis Bushkovsky / Match TV
Promes penalty and beauty from Prutsev
At the same time, Spartak did not lose heart because of missed opportunities, but continued to push and push. Quincy Promes joined the game, who aggravated several times in someone else’s penalty area. It is clear that Lokomotiv could not withstand such pressure for a long time. In the 19th minute, the Red-Whites earned a penalty. Prutsev cut a pass into the penalty area for Promes, who was ahead of both Barinov and Khudyakov. Loko’s goalkeeper knocked down Quincy along the way. Chief referee Moskalev ran to the monitor and confidently pointed to the point, there was no doubt about the correctness of the penalties. Promes calmly converted a shot from the point and chalked up the 14th goal in the Russian championship.
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Even more difficult times have come for Loko. It was necessary to win back, otherwise there was a risk of leaving for a winter break in the direct relegation zone. Wards Fedorov honestly tried to change something, it all looked very weak. “Spartak” was head and shoulders better and soon scored the second goal. And it turned out just gorgeous. Promes gave to Nicholson, he rebounded with Khlusevich and burst into the front, from where he managed to technically pass to the center of the penalty area for Prutsev, who touched Khudyakov – 2:0. And it hasn’t even been half an hour!
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A few more minutes later, Nicholson could make the score big. Promes gave to Khlusevich already inside the penalty area, he gave to Shamar, who tried to competently substitute his foot, but the ball slid past the bar. It would be a verdict for Lokomotiv. And there were still some chances, although judging by the game, something supernatural was needed to turn the tide of the meeting. Meanwhile, Anton Miranchuk collapsed in Spartak’s penalty area, but instead of a penalty, he received a yellow card for simulation. At the end of the half, the Red-Whites were very determined to score the third goal, however, apparently, they decided to leave a piece of intrigue for the second half.
Photo: © Denis Bushkovsky / Match TV
Another “Loco”
Fedorov made two substitutions at half-time, Kerk and Camano replaced Rakognac and Isidor. And I must admit that at the beginning of the second half, the audience saw a completely different Lokomotiv. True, immediately after the break, Spartak had a great moment, when Nicholson went one on one with Khudyakov, but shot right at the goalkeeper. And then the “red-greens” got down to business in earnest. Zhivoglyadov crossed into the penalty area, where Kerk hit twice with his head. In the first case, the ball hit Denisov’s hand, and in the second, it hit the post. The referee did not see violations in the actions of the Spartak defender. Immediately after that, he had another moment, but Selikhov managed to cope with his blow.
The goalkeeper of the “red-whites” at that moment was all at work. Submissions to his penalty area followed one after another. One of them ended with a hit by Maradishvili, but Selikhov pulled a difficult ball out of the corner. And there was also a chic confrontation between Makgeev and Promes, when Stanislav for some reason pressed his head against Quincy’s head and did not think to retreat. The Dutchman was not too pleased with this state of affairs, but this moment will surely fall into all the cuts of the tour. It looked the most atmospheric.
What an ending!
Meanwhile, Abascal was clearly nervous, realizing that the game was starting to take shape not according to his scenario. He removed Nicholson from the field and released a fresh Sobolev. Nevertheless, “Loko” by inertia still continued its attacks, but already without the spark that was at the beginning of the second half. Spartak responded with the right scoring chance. Khlusevich famously gave to Promes, who seemed to hit for sure, but Khudyakov put his foot out and miraculously saved the situation. Closer to the 80th minute, the Red-Whites almost earned the right to a second penalty. The same Promes ended up in front of Khudyakov’s goal, the Loko goalkeeper rushed at the Spartak player and scooped the ball out from under the Dutchman’s feet, but at the same time slightly touched the opponent’s player. Moskalev consulted VAR and did not call the foul.
At the very end, Miranchuk managed a stylish solo pass, but he had to hit with his unloved right foot, and the ball flew past the goal. Promes could finish everything, running out one on one with Khudyakov, and for the umpteenth time the Loko goalkeeper saved the team from a sure goal. Almost immediately, Lokomotiv nevertheless scored a goal. I must say, the “red-greens” definitely deserved his persistence in the second half. Barinov shot into the penalty area, where Isidor got ahead of Chernov and sent the ball into Selikhov’s goal. Inspired by this development, Lokomotiv’s players ran to save the match and had a couple of good opportunities, but Spartak survived and went into the winter break in second place. At the same time, Abascal and his coaching staff should think about it. His wards tore the opponent apart, but barely carried their legs in the end.
Is this a championship contender’s game?
