Nine-men Akhmat stun Lokomotiv in five-goal thriller

Lokomotiv Moscow 2-3 Akhmat Grozny
Wednesday 26 August, RZD Arena

Goals: Lokomotiv - Anton Miranchuk (pen 48), Krychowiak (77); Akhmat - Vladimir Ilyin (4), Artem Timofeev (45), Bernard Berisha (58)

Man of the Match: Vladimir Ilyin (Akhmat)

Sent off: Akhmat - Marat Bystrov (63), Anton Shvets (90+6)

Just three minutes in, Vladimir Ilyin raced clear after a perfectly-judged through ball from Maksim Nenakhov before slotting a precise left-footed finish into Guilherme’s bottom corner. If anything it was Akhmat who applied the greater pressure, and on the stroke of half time Artem Timofeev guided a loose ball home after a messy scramble in Lokomotiv’s area.

Anton Miranchuk pulled one back straight after the break from the penalty spot, only to see Bernard Berisha restore Akhmat’s advantage. Even Akhmat going down to 10 men didn’t change the result, despite Grzegorz Krychowiak reducing the deficit late on. Deep into added time, Anton Shvets was booked twice in quick succession.

Lokomotiv stay on seven points, while Akhmat leapfrog them on to 10 points.

Lokomotiv Moscow host Zenit St. Petersburg next on Sunday 30 August, while Akhmat Grozny welcome CSKA Moscow on the same day.