published: thursday 1 december 2011, 20.05cet fc lokomotiv moskva 3-1 sk sturm graz
the railwaymen sealed their place in the uefa europa league round of 32 and snuffed out their guests' chances with a win in moscow.
a 3-1 home win against sk sturm graz secured fc lokomotiv moskva's place in the uefa europa league round of 32 and brought the austrian champions' european adventure to an end.
the second-half introduction of maicon turned the match lokomotiv's way, and although his 62nd-minute header was quickly cancelled out by florian kainz, a dmitri sychev penalty and a late denis glushakov strike earned a deserved win.
chances were few and far between in a first half that was comfortably controlled by the hosts. lokomotiv came closest to a breakthrough on 37 minutes when manuel da costa's ambitious shot from inside his own half brought a strong palm from a hastily retreating silvije cavlina. sychev also let fly, sending a controlled first-time volley just wide of the left upright from vladislav ıgnatyev's curling centre.
the match came to life after the hour when josé couceiro's men took the lead through maicon, who headed ıgnatyev's floated cross from the right past cavlina at the back post. the lead lasted less than two minutes, though, as sturm scored from a rare foray forward; kainz was neatly played into the area by roman kienast, and the young substitute slipped the ball past anton amelchenko.
lokomotiv turned up the pressure once more, and it paid dividends when a milan dudic foul gave them a penalty, with sheer power taking sychev's spot kick beyond the unlucky cavlina for the captain's fourth group l goal.
sturm never looked like getting back into the match, and were fortunate that first cavlina, then the crossbar denied the impressive maicon. however, the brazilian was undeterred and cavlina could only palm his 89th-minute cross-shot into the path of a grateful glushakov to underline the win.
