Lokomotiv beat Tom amidst controversy

Lokomotiv mantained their step with their rivals for a Champions League berth with a 3-1 win in Tomsk. Unfortunately, for the first time this season, I wasn't able to watch the whole match; actually due to unforeseen circumstances I was able to watch Lokomotiv's last 30 mins. This mean that I won't be able to rate the players as I find it rather ridiculous to rate a player's performance in last 15 minutes. Anyways a brief summary of the match.

With Lokomotiv still hoping for a the bronze medals and Tom Tomsk looking to secure their status in the Russian top flight the encounter was always going to be a heated one; which eventually it resulted to be. 4 goals, 4 yellow and 2 red cards were all listed on the ref's handbook at the end of the match. In addition, with Lokomotiv collecting an average point from their last 4 matches another drawback would mean addieu to a possible Champions League berth. Apparently, for the first time since his appointment, Semin decided to change his starting formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-1-1. Guilherme made his 14 start for Lokomotiv, while Kuzmin and Yanbaev started on the right and left flank respectively. The central pair was made up of Basha and Sennikov who replaced Rodolfo and Asatiani respectively. Youngster Kambolov, Dujmovic, Glushakov and Gatagov started in midfield while Odemwingie assisted captain Sychev in attack.

Despite a conservative-looking formation, Lokomotiv opened the score within the ten minutes. Tom keeper Pareiko tripped Odemwingie and with no hesitation the referee pointed to the spot. From 11 metres, Sychev duly converted. However within ten minutes, Tom levelled the matters as Maznov found himself at the right time and place for the rebound to deposit into open net following Kharitonov's effort was parried onto the right-up by Guilherme. On the 33rd minute Lokomotiv hit again as Sychev let an unstoppable strike into the bottom left corner. Pareiko couldn't do nothing. 2-1 was the score at half time.

Showing good football, Semin made no changes at half time and Lokomotiv repaid him by scoring the third goal through Odemwingie. The goal earned harsh protests from Tom as they believed that the player was offside by some metres. Although at first sight everyone would have gave Tom reason, replays showed that at the time of the cross, that is before the ball rebounded off the head of a Tom defender Odemwingie was in onside position. That means that the goal stood. There was an even more drama as ten minutes later, following a brawl, two players, one for either side were sent-off. Dzyuba and Kambolov for Tom and Loko respectively were those two. That resulted to be last action of note as Lokomotiv closed down to record a much-needed 3-1 victory over Tom Tomsk.