RPL Matchday 18
FC Rostov 1-3 Lokomotiv Moscow
Saturday 4 March, Rostov Arena

Goals: Rostov – Komlichenko (87); Lokomotiv – Dzyuba (33, 57, 64)
Man of the Match: Artem Dzyuba (Lokomotiv)

Before meeting in RPL both sides were eliminated from RPL Path of Russian Cup, and they will continue battle for the trophy in the bottom bracket. Valery Karpin put two big strikers, as Egor Golenkov joined Nikolay Komlichenko, while Dmitry Poloz stayed on the bench. Lokomotiv started with Artem Dzyuba and Maksim Glushenkov as forwards, being supported by Francois Kamano and Sergey Pinyaev. Dzyuba was on target twice, his first attempt after getting pass from Nair Tiknizyan ended miss, but then he redirected the ball with leg and got first goal in the league after returning.

RPL all-time top scorer did not stop, and in the second half his breakthrough to the box ended with second goal. Finally, he finished from the cross from right wing and got the hat-trick. Before Dzyuba gave the lead to the guests, Khoren Bayramyan was close to score, but his shot from the center of penalty area was blocked by Ilya Lantratov. Lokomotiv new keeper was helpless in the end of second half, when Nikolay Komlichenko sent the ball to the net through defenders legs.

With the first league win under Mikhail Galaktionov Lokomotiv move to 13th on 16 points, while Rostov still third with 35 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 11 March – Akhmat vs Lokomotiv; Sunday 12 March – Rostov vs Pari NN