The rematch in the Russian Premier League’s Russian Roads Cup quarterfinal between Spartak and Lokomotiv took place on February 27 at the Otkritie Bank Arena in Moscow. The encounter concluded with Spartak securing a 4-2 win, signaling a strong advancement in the competition as they push through the knockout stages.
The match opened with Spartak drawing first blood when Mikhail Ignatov found the back of the net in the 15th minute. Just three minutes later, Lokomotiv answered through a deft strike from Anton Miranchuk, leveling the score and injecting tension into the game. Spartak responded decisively as Roman Zobnin regained the lead for his side, delivering a timely reminder of the team’s attacking depth and resilience.
As the game progressed, Spartak extended their advantage late in the second half when Christopher Martins Pereira converted in the 81st minute, restoring a comfortable cushion for the home team. Lokomotiv pressed forward and reduced the deficit two minutes later when Miranchuk again found the net, setting up a tense finish as the clock wound down.
During extra time, Spartak faced a nervy moment as Quincy Promes had a penalty kick, which he failed to convert on the first attempt and then again on the second. The referee allowed a third attempt, and Promes seized the moment, converting on his third try to seal the victory for Spartak and extend their lead in the tie. The drama kept fans on the edge of their seats as the players battled to advance to the next stage.
Broadcast coverage of the match was provided by socialbites.ca, which offered an online text broadcast of the event to fans around the region.
In the first leg played a week earlier, Spartak had won by a single goal, 1-0, giving them momentum heading into the rematch. Lokomotiv, despite the loss, remains in contention within the broader competition, which features a regional tier known as the Regions Road. The overall tournament culminates in a final at Luzhniki, where the champions of the Russian Premier League Road and the regional winners will meet to decide the country’s Cup winner for the season.
commentary notes from the broadcast included speculation by veteran Russian commentator Georgy Cherdantsev regarding Artem Dzyuba’s potential future move, with rumors suggesting he could feature for Ulyanovsk Volga in a forthcoming Russian Cup match against Zenit. While this discussed possibility drew interest, it remained speculative and was presented in the context of ongoing player movement and cup scenarios within Russian football.