Last season’s runners up CSKA Moscow took on Lokomotiv Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium during match day four. A 20,000 strong crowd were there to see biggest game of the Russian Premier League season so far....
13 Apr 2009 11:33:01
First Half
The start of the first half was signalled with a Lokomotiv raid down the left wing by 25 year-old Russian international Dmitri Sychev; his great cross was parried away by the CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
The first ten minutes were very competitive as both teams fought for possession and control of midfield.
Then, Milos Krasic, the Serbian international, combined with Alan Dzagoev in midfield.The space they created saw the Serbian power towards the Lokomotiv goal and release Yuri Zhirkov, last year’s Russian player of the year. He ran onto the pass from the left wing only to spray his hard shot wide past the keeper’s far post.
Fifteen minutes gone and Lokomotiv found some room on the right with Dmitri Torbinsky; the 24 year old found himself in a one-on-one situation with Georgi Shchennikov, and he took the opportunity to accelerate past the CSKA defender, crossing a ball from the by-line only for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to head the ball over the bar, albeit from an awkward height.
On 20 minutes the game opened up as CSKA had to defend a tricky run by Lokomotiv attacker Djilby Fall; his cross into the box from the left hand side was then met with a swift CSKA counter attack. A Milos Krasic cross floating into the path of Dzagoev; who could only miss from six yards out, his header going wide.
CSKA had all the ball but could not break the Lokomotiv defence, who were relying on the counter attack
A free kick in the 35th minute just outside the Lokomotiv goal was set up for the young Russian international Alan Dzagoev to score a sublime opener.The Lokomotiv goalkeeper Marek Cech acted like a spectator as the ball curled over the wall with pace and flew past his right shoulder into the goal.
Second Half
Lokomotiv players must love the sound of the whistle, as they again kicked off proceedings with an attack straight after the kick-off, courtesy of midfielder Dennis Glushakov; his hard and low shot going wide of the right post.
Zhirkov though, doubled the lead for CSKA in the 55th minute, finishing off a nice move that started off just inside the home team’s own half. Alan Dzagoev was only one of the architects of the goal for the army side, as the move began with Chidi Odiah; Eugeni Aldonin was involved twice, then finishing the move by crossing in for Zhirkov to blast the ball into the roof off the net.
CSKA almost tripled their advantage in the 67th minute of play. It was Zhirkov again who found himself in the box and he shot against the post, the ball coming back to him and his follow up shot going over the bar.
A corner soon after for CSKA saw more pressure piled on the visitors, as midfielder Pavel Mamaev shot from distance forcing the Lokomotiv keeper into a difficult save down low to his right
Alan Dzagoev then scored his second of the match in the 72nd minute to make the score 3-0 for the home side. A Milos Krasic floating cross found the young ace in the six yard box and the number 10 for CSKA Moscow made the header look quite easy.
Vagner Love's (pictured) absence was all but forgotten as the 18 year old basically owned this game.
Marko Basa, the Montenegro defender, got a consolation goal for the away team scoring in the 79th minute; heading in a long ball from the left by substitute David Mujiri.Four minutes from full time the army team extended their lead, with Zhirkov setting up Nigerian substitute Moussa Maazou, who duly scored on his debut.
The score remained 4-1 in favour of CSKA and the home team ended their three game goalless run with four quality strikes. Lokomotiv have a week to think about how badly they played.
Con Stamocostas, Goal.com
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