Eder rounded up Lokomotiv Moscow’s winter training schedule in style with a first-half hat-trick in their 3-1 win over FNL side FC Chaika. Igor leontev replied for the lower league side.

FC Chaika wasted a promising two-on-two breakaway early on, but it didn’t take long for Lokomotiv to respond. Dmitriy Barinov backheeled a short pass to Rifat Zhemaletdinov, who bundled a ball through for Eder to round the keeper and break the deadlock.

Just before the half-hour mark a huge lofted pass forward by Benedikt Howedes caught out the FC Chaika defence to leave Eder clear on goal. He kept his cool under pressure from a backtracking Maksim Vasilev to hit a firm top-corner finish.

Before the break the goalscorer did his best to turn provider twice. Compatriot Joao Mario played a one-two with Eder before squirming a shot wide, before the forward’s quick feet created enough space for Barinov to shoot over from 15 yards.

Five minutes before half time Zhemaletdinov raced onto Barinov’s return pass to cross from the byline to Eder. Although the keeper crowded his space, a cheeky roll of the boot behind his standing leg found the net past his unsuspecting markers.

Leontev struck a consolation soon into the second half with no little ingenuity. With little space to work with, he spanned on the spot and found the bottom corner past Anton Kochenkov.

Other than a hopeful effort from on-loan FC Ufa midfielder Igor Bezdenezhnykh, few chances appeared for either side in the final half hour.

Lokomotiv Moscow return to Russian Premier Liga action away to league leaders Zenit St. Petersburg on Saturday 29 February.

Lokomotiv Moscow 3-1 FC Chaika
22 February, Marbella, Spain
Goals: Eder (17’, 28’, 39’); Leontev (50’)

Lokomotiv Moscow: Guilherme (Kochenkov 46’), Ignatyev (Rybus 63’), Corluka (Murilo 71’), Howedes (Zhivoglyadov 63’), Kverkvelia, Magkeev (Rybchinskiy 63’), Barinov, Krychowiak, Joao Mario, Zhemaletdinov, Eder (Al. Miranchuk 46’)
FC Chaika: Kiselev, Kartashov, Tumasyan, Vasilyev, Chistyakov, Gasanov, Leontev, Mashnev, Bezdenezhnykh, Kulik, Podbeltsev