Gisdol off the mark with first Lokomotiv win

Lokomotiv Moscow 2-1 Sochi 
Monday 25 October, RZD Arena 

Goals: Lokomotiv - Yurganov (OG) 41’, Jedvaj 49’; Sochi - Joaozinho 90+4’
Man of the Match: Konstantin Maradishvili (Lokomotiv)

Lokomotiv had a stroke of fortune to thank for them taking the lead just before half time against fellow high-fliers Sochi, as Igor Yurganov diverted the ball into his own net. Konstantin Maradishvili had seen his harmless free kick blocked, but upon collecting the loose ball, his whipped cross was much more dangerous - had Yurganov not made contact, Tin Jedvaj was lurking for what would have been a certain goal anyway.

Dmitry Rybchinsky unleashed a rocket minutes later that Nikolay Zabolotny turned away, as Lokomotiv went into the break in control. Up until that point, in fact, the visitors had not even attempted a single shot on goal.

Jedvaj went one better just after the break, timing his run to perfection as he planted an unstoppable bullet header into the back of the net. 

Joaozinho pulled back a sensational consolation in the fourth minute of added time, curling a sumptuous free kick into the top corner of Guilherme’s net, but time simply ran out for the visitors to stage a dramatic comeback.

Lokomotiv stay go fourth on 21 points, while Sochi drop to sixth on 21 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 30 October  - Nizhny Novgorod vs Lokomotiv Moscow; Sunday 31 October - Arsenal vs Sochi