Chelyabinsk beat Lokomotiv Izumrud 3:1 in the Russian Cup on Thursday evening, a result that flipped the table on its head. We had backed the visitors at 79 per cent confidence, but the match went another way entirely. The home side held their nerve when it mattered and took all three points.
Lokomotiv arrived as leaders with five points from two games, unbeaten and looking sharp. Chelyabinsk sat second with four points after a win and a loss. By then the visitors had already beaten Baranul 3:0 the day before, so confidence should have been high. Instead they found themselves chasing the game.
The away side never stopped probing, but chances went begging. Three goals for the hosts against one for Lokomotiv tells the story without needing minute-by-minute detail. The visitors had the better of possession probably, but that means nothing when you cannot convert.
Statistics would show the usual spread — shots on target, corners, perhaps expected goals favouring the visitors. But the scoreboard is honest. Lokomotiv have kept two clean sheets on the spin up to this point, and now they have one to add to the pile. Chelyabinsk's loss to Stroitel Minsk 2:3 last night made this win look even more important.
The table shifts now. Lokomotiv drop to second on four points after one defeat, while Chelyabinsk move level on points with the new leaders. The gap closes to one point with two rounds played. Nobody is out for the season yet, but the Russian Cup does not forgive early mistakes.