CSKA is tracking activities of "Lokomotiv"
Pic a Whirlwind Clash ## More Thrilling Matches
Snap of the Skirmish Moment of the encounter between "Lokomotiv" and "Rostov"
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Daniil Shantalyi (right) of the "Rostov" team
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Umar Sako (left) and Timur Suleimanov (center) of "Rostov" and "Lokomotiv" respectively
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Kirill Shchetinin (left) of "Rostov" nearly scores the opener
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Rustam Yatimov, the goalkeeper of "Rostov," and Anton Mitryushkin of "Lokomotiv"
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Egor Pogostnov (left) and Egor Golenkov of "Lokomotiv" and "Rostov" respectfully
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Left to right: Kirill Shchetinin, Egor Golenkov, and Andrei Langovich of "Rostov"
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
The medical staff evacuate injured "Lokomotiv" player Ilya Samoshnikov off the pitch
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
A tense moment in the "Lokomotiv"-"Rostov" confrontation
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Dmitri Barinov of "Lokomotiv"
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Another pulsating moment in the "Lokomotiv"-"Rostov" battle
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
"Rostov" players participating in the "Immortal Regiment" demonstration before the game
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
The "Rostov" team in the "Immortal Regiment" parade before their match
Picture Credit: Kommersant / Ivan Vodop'yanov / Purchase Picture
Four days earlier, "Lokomotiv" and "Rostov" met in the 26th round of the Russian Championship, with the Don team hosting the match initially. The game ended 1-1 in a close contest, with neither team chasing significant goals in the Premier League anymore.
"Lokomotiv" missed their leader and top scorer, Alexei Baturin, who boasted the most points in the championship using the "goal plus pass" system - 20.
On the other hand, "Rostov" welcomed back three suspended players, while they also replaced their goalkeeper Daniil Odoyevsky with Anton Mitryushkin, who had conceded a penalty in the last game, but their head coach, Mikhail Galaktinov, opted to reinstate Mitryushkin in goal despite his past error.
In the ongoing game, Shchetinin had a golden chance to break the deadlock, but he blasted it at Mitryushkin. He did score eventually after making a run down the left flank and passing to Nikolai Komlichenko, though Komlichenko too couldn't convert, hitting Mitryushkin again. However, a VAR review showed that Egor Pogostnov had handled the ball while trying to intercept Shchetinin's pass, leading to a penalty for "Rostov." Maxim Osipenko (sometimes listed as Ostapenko in reports) converted the penalty and gave "Rostov" the lead.
In the first half, Rostov's goalkeeper, Rustam Yatimov, was the standout performer, while Shchetinin shone bright for the guests, also creating a potential goal-scoring chance for Ronaldo but the Brazilian missed from a great position. Overall, "Rostov" looked the better side before the break, with Yatimov hardly tested.
The story for "Rostov" was much the same as before - they dominated, ensuring they didn't throw away their advantage.
The second half started with Komlichenko scoring what seemed like the second goal for "Rostov," but the VAR check intervened, disallowing the goal due to a foul by a "Lokomotiv" player. Instead, the Rostov player received a yellow card for simulation.
"Rostov" gradually started losing control of the game. They were fortunate that Edgar Sevikyan missed a clear chance, hitting the ball over the crossbar from a position where it should have been simple. Eventually, they focused solely on preserving their one-goal advantage, but Shchetinin still had the energy for a counter-attack. He carried the ball into the penalty area and passed it to Egor Golénkov via Komlichenko, who fooled the opponents with a fake swing. Golénkov's goal on the 87th minute put the game beyond doubt. With a 2–0 victory, "Rostov" advanced to the "Regions' Path" final, where they will face "Spartak" for a spot in the Russian Cup Superfinal.
Meanwhile, in the previous match of the RPL "Path Final" between "Zenit" and CSKA, it was a close contest, but there was still room for errors, leading both clubs to resort to traditional cup squad rotations.
For instance, CSKA's goal was guarded not by Igor Akinfeev but by Vladislav Torop, and Zenit's starting goalkeeper Yevgeny Lantushonok wasn't in action. CSKA also had to manage without their leading defender, Vilian Rocha, due to the accumulation of yellow cards, leaving their defense looking experimental. The 20-year-old Jamalutdin Abdulkadyrov, who had recently made a successful debut in the championship derby against "Spartak," teamed up with the 21-year-old Matvey Lukin.
It wasn't easy to anticipate that Mateo Cassierra would expertly position himself for Sasha Zdeilar's shot from the free kick, leaving Torop caught off guard, as the ball found the net. Zenit followed up with another quick goal, but a VAR review overturned Andrei Mostovoy's goal, as a Zenit player had fouled. Zenit tried to extend their lead, with Luciano Gondou, Luis Enrique, and Cassierra pressing Torop's goal, but he defended impressively, parrying all threats. While CSKA managed to create a genuine scoring chance thanks to Kirill Glebov, "Zenit" won 2–0, securing a comfortable advantage for the second match against CSKA.
"Spartak" conquers "Dinamo" and advances to the "Regions' Path" final
Trailing 0–2, Spartak made life difficult for Adamov. While Guarirapa and Kristijan Bistrovic tested his goal, Glebov attacked him physically, nearly causing a brutal encounter. A mass brawl was narrowly avoided, and referee Sergei Ivanov issued only two yellow cards to the immediate participants.
CSKA tried to pull one back until the final whistle, with a 1–2 defeat on the road acceptable ahead of the home rematch. However, Tamarlan Musayev couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, missing the mark. "Zenit" secured a comfortable 2–0 win, ensuring a commanding lead for the second match against CSKA.
- In the ongoing game, Timur Suleimanov of "Lokomotiv" and Umar Sako of "Rostov" were involved in a tense moment.
- Egor Pogostnov of "Rostov" was awarded a penalty after a VAR review showed he had been fouled.
- Maxim Osipenko converted the penalty, giving "Rostov" the lead against "Lokomotiv."
- In the Russian Championship, "Rostov" clearly dominated in their matches, ensuring they didn't throw away their advantage.
