Guilherme heroics secure narrow Lokomotiv win

Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 Akhmat Grozny

Sunday 8 March, RZD Arena

Goal: Eder (32’)

Sent off: Solomon Kverkvelia (84’)

Man of the Match: Guilherme

With Yuriy Semin watching on from the stands, 10-man Lokomotiv Moscow clung on to a narrow 1-0 win at home to Akhmat Grozny thanks to a first-half strike from Eder. Guilherme saved a late penalty when Solomon Kverkvelia handled a Kharin diving header.

Just after the half-hour mark a simple combination between Eder and Grzegorz Krychowiak broke down. Aleksey Miranchuk picked up possession and played a one-two with Rifat Zhemaletdinov before feeding Eder to take one touch and finish neatly.

Zhemaletdinov had carved open Akhmat after 13 minutes when he beat Maksim Nenakhov on the outside. He threaded a low cross through a crowd of defenders to the onrushing Joao Mario who sidefooted over from eight yards.

Krychowiak was then denied a point-blank range opener halfway through the first half by VAR. Zhemaletdinov’s cut back found Lokomotiv’s top goalscorer, who hit the bar with a deflected shot under pressure before nodding the rebound over the line.

Guilherme was in inspired form when called upon just a minute later. Nenakhov hit a composed volley from Oleg Ivanov’s lofted ball out wide, but Lokomotiv’s keeper strained every sinew to tip the ball just over the crossbar.

Despite holding the lead - and failing to be given a penalty despite Ismael Silva seeming to handle a cross inside the area - Lokomotiv struggled to complete their dominance. Just before half-time, their former midfielder Denis Glushakov stung Guilherme’s gloves with a fierce drive.

After an hour Andres Ponce glanced a header just wide from a right-wing cross, before Akhmat’s best chance came with five minutes left on the clock.

Felipe Vizeu rounded Guilherme, cut back inside and smashed a shot against the crossbar. The rebound came out to Evgeniy Kharin, whose diving header was deflected round the post by Solomon Kverkvelia’s hands.

After the Georgian centre-back had been sent off Vizeu stepped up to take the spot kick. His stuttering run-up did little to distract Guilherme who saved the penalty with his legs.

Lokomotiv Moscow travel to take on FC Rostov next on Sunday 15 March, while Akhmat Grozny welcome Dynamo Moscow on Friday 13 March.

Lokomotiv Moscow: Guilherme, Ignatyev, Corluka (Rybus 72’), Kverkvelia (sent off 84’), Howedes, Magkeev, Krychowiak, Joao Mario (Rybchinskiy 80’), Al. Miranchuk, Zhemaletdinov, Eder (Murilo 89’)

Akhmat Grozny: Gorodov, Bogosavac, Angel, Semenov, Nenakhov, Ivanov, Glushakov (Ravanelli 75’), Kharin, Ismael Silva (Mbengue 86’), Ponce (Felipe Vizeu 65’), Ilyin