Lamkel Ze double in vain as Kuchta snatches Lokomotiv win against 10-man Khimki

Lokomotiv Moscow 3-2 Khimki
Sunday 6 March, RZD Arena

Goals: Lokomotiv - Kerk 8’, Isidor 21’, Kuchta 81’; Khimki - Lamkel Ze 6’, 73’
Man of the Match: Didier Lamkel Ze (Khimki)
Sent off: Khimki - Bruno Viana 41’

First RPL goals for Didier Lamkel Ze and Wilson Isidor sandwiched a Gyrano Kerk equaliser in a frantic opening 20 minutes that saw Marvin Compper’s temporary charges overturn an early Khimki lead.

Khimki new boy Lamkel Ze showed remarkable composure and strength on the ball after breaking the offside trap just after five minutes in, holding off the considerable attentions of Nark Mampassi before sliding a careful finish past Daniil Khudyakov.

Within two minutes, the Railroaders were level. Dmitry Barinov lofted a long ball over the top perfectly into Gyrano Kerk’s path, leaving the Dutchman to smash an unstoppable finish over Ilya Lantratov.

Barinov repeated the trick with another ball over the top that Wilson Isidor didn’t have to break stride before poking his new side in front.

Jan Kuchta was inches from  making it 3-1 but couldn’t quite reach a Rifat Zhemaletdinov cross.

The Czech striker was left to rue his miss when Lamkel Ze turned Barinov inside out and struck an unlikely equaliser from near-impossible angle, but kept his nerve to feed off a delightful Zhemaletdinov through ball with 10 minutes to go to round Lantratov and roll in the winner.

Lokomotiv fifth on 31 points, while Khimki remain bottom of the table on 14 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 12 March - Lokomotiv vs CSKA; Sunday 13 March - Khimki vs Sochi