Spoils shared in Moscow thriller
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Article summary
FC Lokomotiv Moskva 3-3 Club Atlético de Madrid
A game of high drama and exquisite goals ended even after Agüero's brilliant late equaliser for the visitors.
Article body
Peter Odemwingie and Agüero both scored twice as FC Lokomotiv Moskva and Club Atlético de Madrid played out a six-goal thriller in UEFA Cup Group B.
Brilliant finish
Atlético twice led through fine goals from Agüero and Diego Forlán, but a first-half equaliser from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov plus Odemwingie's second-half double looked set to give Lokomotiv the spoils. However, Agüero produced his second brilliant finish of the match with five minutes to go to earn Atlético a deserved draw.
Exquisite goals
The first half was hugely entertaining, illuminated by two exquisite goals from either side. The opener went to Atlético in the 16th minute through Agüero. Standing with his back to goal on the edge of the Lokomotiv area, the in-form Argentinian youngster half-stopped a pass from Jurado with his right foot - allowing the ball to go across him - before swivelling to hit a superb half-volley into the corner of the net with his left foot.
Unstoppable shot
Lokomotiv were back on level terms eleven minutes later, though, with a noteworthy goal of their own. Branislav Ivanović did well down the right before pulling back a low cross into the box which Bilyaletdinov finished off with an unstoppable rising shot past Christian Abbiati. There would have been a third first-half stunner, too, had Jurado not seen a beautiful drive from distance strike the crossbar.
Forlán on target
The second half started in perfect fashion for the Madrid club with Forlán restoring their lead inside the opening two minutes, picking up an Agüero flick before slipping inside an opponent and thumping a clinical shot into the roof of the net. Lokomotiv goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli then twice denied Agüero before Odemwingie scored twice. The first on 61 was as easy as they come, the second three minutes later a close-range header after his initial shot had been blocked.
Deserved point
An exciting end-to-end match continued to produce chances for both sides in the last 15 minutes, but it looked as though Lokomotiv were going to take the spoils - until Agüero collected a Maniche pass, span his marker and dinked the ball over the sprawling Pelizzoli to salvage a deserved point.