Lokomotiv earn nervy late win against nine-man Ural

Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 Ural Ekaterinburg
Sunday 16 May, RZD Arena

Goal: Lokomotiv - Rybchinsky (89)
Sent off: Ural - Augustinyak (27), Miskic (75)
Man of the Match: Dmitry Rybchinsky (Lokomotiv)

Rafal Augustinyak was sent off for clashing with compatriot Grzegorz Krychowiak on the edge of the penalty area midway through the first half, with the scores still goalless. At that point Spartak were already 1-0 down, meaning Lokomotiv only needed to score to leapfrog them into the second Champions league spot.

Lokomotiv piled on the pressure in search of a crucial winner, hitting the crossbar through Vitaly Lisakovich. With quarter of an hour to go, Ural were reduced to nine men when Danijel Miskic was shown a second yellow for a lunger on Anton Miranchuk, but former Ural forward Fedor Smolov shot another direct free kick over.

With desperation setting in, Smolov slid a patient pass across to Dmitry Rybchinsky to smash in from a few yards out. 

Lokomotiv have to make do with the Europa League after finishing third on 56 points, while Ural finish 12th on 34 points.