Lokomotiv Moscow needed penalties again to settle their Match Premier Cup match after drawing 1-1 with Spartak Moscow on Wednesday. This time they won the shootout to move level with Rostov behind Spartak, who picked up one point.

They had the first major chance after just 11 minutes when Pavel Maslov’s goalline block denied Grzegorz Krychowiak’s shot after Aleksandr Maksimenko had rushed at Eder’s feet to block to Portuguese striker.

Eder had another shot blocked after 25 minutes, while Spartak’s first real opportunity came moments later through new signing Aleksandr Sobolev. The Russian Premier League’s second-top goalscorer dragged his shot wide.

Joao Mario cut a cross back from the byline at the other end two minutes later to the unlikely target of experienced full-back Vladislav Ignatyev. His half-volley was well struck and found the far corner to give Lokomotiv the lead.

Aleksey Miranchuk forced Maksimenko to parry his fierce shot shortly before Anton Konchenkov tipped Vedran Corluka’s flicked on defensive header from Nikolay Rasskazov’s cross. The latter fed Lorenzo Melgarejo a few minutes before half time but the Paraguayan’s shot dribbled harmlessly wide.

Three minutes after the break Evgeniy Gaponov stabbed in an equaliser after Georgi Dzhikia touched back a loose ball from a free kick. Maxim Glushenkov could have given Spartak the lead twice before the hour mark but was twice denied.

On 55 minutes but he couldn’t quite take the ball round Kochenkov from Ayrton Lucas’ perfectly judged through ball. After Reziuan Mirzov shielded a long ball from his marker he left Glushenkov a clear run on goal, but again Kochenkov blocked his shot.

Dmitriy Barinov had Artem Rebrov scrambling with a wild effort from long range with quarter of an hour to go. Mirzov thought his shot had been touched in by Glushenkov moments afterwards but it was ruled out for a marginal offside.

In the shootout, Glushenkov and Benedikt Howedes had their penalties saved before Nikita Medvedev kept out Aleks Kral’s effort. Barinov sealed the two points for Lokomotiv with the decisive spot kick.

Going into the final round of games this weekend, Spartak are top of the table with four points, while Lokomotiv and Rostov are level on three points with Partizan on two. All four teams can mathematically still win the tournament if scores and results go their way.

Match Premier Cup table
1 Spartak        4pts     GD: +1
2 Rostov         3pts     GD: +1
3 Lokomotiv    3pts     GD: 0
4 Partizan       2pts     GD: -2

Spartak 1-1 Lokomotiv (2-4 pens)
5 February, Aspire Academy, Qatar
Goals: Ignatyev 27’; Gaponov 48’

Spartak: Maksimenko, Maslov, Gigot, Dzhikia, Rasskazov, Til, Bakalyuk, Guliev, Melgarejo, Bakaev, Sobolev
Second half: Rebrov, Eshchenko, Kutepov, Dzhikia, Gaponov, Ayrton, Kral, Markitesov, Zobnin, Glushenkov, Mirzov

Lokomotiv: Kochenkov (Medvedev 91’), Howedes, Corluka (Murilo 75’), Ignatyev (Idowu 80’), Kverkvelia, Magkeev, Barinov, Krychowiak, Joao Mario (Rybus 70’), Al. Miranchuk, Eder (Zhemaletdinov 46’)