Lokomotiv Moscow edged Krasnodar in a dramatic Russian Premier League week 20 clash in Moscow on March 18. The final score read 3-2, tipping the scales in favor of the railway workers after a turbulent second half.
The visitors owned the first half, racing to a two-goal lead before the whistle of the break. Junior Alonso found the net in the 29th minute, followed by John Cordoba’s goal at 39 minutes. A late first-half chance slipped away for Lokomotiv as Artem Dzyuba’s penalty attempt in the 45th minute was saved, leaving the score at 0-2 at the interval.
After the restart, Lokomotiv rallied with purpose. Dmitry Barinov struck soon after the restart, slotting home in the 47th minute to spark momentum. Maxim Glushenkov then leveled the match with a goal in the 51st minute, and Dzyuba completed the turnaround with a decisive strike at 65 minutes. The home side showed resilience and seized control, turning a difficult situation into a winning result.
The ending period was marked by discipline issues on both sides. Krasnodar’s Christian Ramirez received a second caution in the 63rd minute, reducing the visitors to ten men. Shortly after, Igor Smolnikov followed with a red card on the tally of two yellow cards in the 72nd minute, further shaping the final moments of the game.
Live coverage of the match provided an in-depth text feed, capturing the ebb and flow of the contest as it unfolded.
With the victory, Lokomotiv climbed from 12th to 11th place, collecting 22 points and reinforcing their position in the mid-table battle. Krasnodar remained in eighth place with 29 points, holding firm in the upper mid-table range as the season progressed.
Looking ahead, after a break in national team fixtures, Lokomotiv is set to travel to face Pari NN on April 2, while Krasnodar will visit Khimki in their next fixture. The result added another chapter to the ongoing narrative of both clubs as they navigate the demanding schedule and chase European qualification ambitions.
In related context, Konstantin Tyukavin, formerly associated with Dynamo Moscow, has been linked with potential moves in Europe. Reports suggest the striker’s goal is to advance to one of the continent’s leading clubs, underscoring the ongoing transfer chatter surrounding a number of Russian talents as clubs reassess their attacking options for the remainder of the season.