Another defeat of the railway workers at the Gazprom Arena.
In the match with Zenit, Lokomotiv seemed like an obvious outsider. Meetings of railroad workers with Petersburgers recently ended for the first only with bitter tears. So this time there were no prerequisites for a sensation.
Hope was only on the moral-volitional. Before the match, the captain of Loko Dmitry Barinov promised to close the main star of Zenit Claudinho. In the words of the midfielder sounded self-confidence. However, things turned out differently.
Claudinho humiliated Lokomotiv twice!
Unexpected Resistance
Surprisingly, the first dangerous attack was a success for Lokomotiv. François Camano and Girano Kerk ran into a fast counterattack, and only the skill of the goalkeeper, as well as the quickness of Wendel, saved Zenit. The Brazilian knocked out the ball, rolling straight into an empty net! It became clear that the railway workers really came to St. Petersburg not only to stand on the defensive.
In the next minutes, Loko had a few more good approaches. However, then the team from Moscow still had to take up defensive positions. Zenit was pushing more and more, and Daniil Khudyakov had to squeeze the most out of every pause in order to give his guys at least a little rest. Several times the ball after hitting the hosts hit the net from the outside, and the stadium exploded with friendly, but false applause. But the young goalkeeper of Loko kept his cool.
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At the end of the half, the railroad workers had a somewhat out of order attack. Players in black allowed more and more marriage in the transfers, and Zenit spent more and more time at the gates of others. Nevertheless, Loko made it to the whistle for the break quite confidently. Guests had an unexpected resistance to the champion. It was hoped that in the second half the intrigue would not die.
Kamano, what’s wrong with you?!
The second half also started with Loko’s scoring opportunity. It seems that the railway workers were counting on the effect of surprise. Alas, this time the guests also failed to score.
After a corner attack went to the second pace. Artyom Karpukas made a cutting pass into the penalty area to Anton Miranchuk, who shot to Dmitry Barinov, who, in turn, sent the ball to the far post. There, in proud solitude, stood Kamano. As a result, the Guinean did not have enough millimeters to reach the transfer and send the ball into an empty net. François has already ruined a few good chances this season, and this raises questions. After all, under Marko Nikolic, he was someone who never forgave opponents for mistakes.
Captain’s mistake
However, hardly anyone seriously believed that Loko would be able to resist Zenit. Yes, the owners had to suffer a little, but in the end they opened the defense of the railroad. And this was done by the one whom Barinov promised to close down – Claudinho.
In the 63rd minute, Zenit succeeded in a quick combination. It was completed by Wendel, but the decisive role belonged to Claudinho. He scored a wonderful non-standard heel pass, which aggravated the situation and stumped Loko’s defense. Vendel had only to outplay Khudyakov, and he coped with this task quite easily. It is curious that in this match Barinov was not tied to Claudinho – he usually fought just with Wendel!
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And then everything fell into place. Another quick attack – and this time Claudinho himself decided the outcome of the episode. Malcom did not make the most convenient pass from the flank (largely because it was intended for another player), but the Brazilian did it. Processing turned out just phenomenal, and then it’s just a matter of technology.
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Five minutes later, the third ball flew into the Loko goal, but it was already a pure formality. Although Ivan Sergeev must be pleased with himself. Unfortunately, the railroad workers, who at first gave us hope for intrigue, literally fell apart at the end of the meeting. It looks like they just didn’t have the strength.
For Barinov, the meeting ended sadly. In the last minutes, Loko’s midfielder missed Malcom and allowed him to go one on one. I had to commit a foul of last resort. Penalty, 4:0, another rout. The captain did not keep his promise. And it is unlikely that the fifth ball that flew into the gates of Khudyakov could spoil the mood of the railroad workers even more. They again failed in St. Petersburg.
