Locomotiv 2 - 1 United (393023408)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 51757 at The Lush today. Sebastian Grzesik was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gert Oxskär and Lauri Taanila. Locomotiv tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Trillo-Figueroa - Niculescu, Ølholm, Danelyan - Deans, Houston, Lavender, Romero, van der Lugt - Perin, Maciulewicz.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for United. The following players had been chosen: Nissing - Kurpershoek, Veniulis, Kopuzcu - Semialjac, Vuollet, Veber, Lewandowski, Herskär - Jongbloed, Cantero.

The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave B. Danelyan from Locomotiv a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 21 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! R. Lavender caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 22 minutes. This gave Locomotiv the 1 - 0 lead. P. Herskär of United was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. United's M. Kopuzcu got himself booked for a foul. Unfortunately for Locomotiv, H. Trillo-Figueroa was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field. A. Rhodes replaced him. Some mind-boggling play by P. Vuollet almost resulted in a goal for Locomotiv, but J. Maciulewicz's shot rebounded off the post. United tied it all up, 34 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by G. Jongbloed, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 1 - 1. 38 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for Locomotiv to take the lead after a good cross from the right found A. Perin alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. Halftime score was 1 - 1. Locomotiv had most of the ball, with 60 percent of possession.

This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when F. Cantero slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against A. Rhodes, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. Locomotiv took the lead 60 minutes into the game by 2 - 1, as A. Perin elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. With 61 minutes played, R. Lavender of Locomotiv fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Locomotiv claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 58 percent.

Locomotiv's top performer was clearly S. Houston. A. Rhodes turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating United player was without a doubt G. Jongbloed. I. Nissing was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 1.