Dynamo lost again to Lokomotiv in the derby

August 2024 has become one of the most difficult months, if not in the entire history of the Dynamo women's football club, then at least this year for sure. It would seem that there were only three matches before a long break until mid-September. But it is enough to look at who these matches were with to understand that it was a hellish marathon: the white-blues met with Moscow Lokomotiv twice (at home and away) and Zenit away. And if we also take into account the personnel problems that befell the Dynamo team (Bozhich, Kubichnaya, Dricheva, Nazhemba were out for different periods), then it is time to get into some mystical stories.

Here, as always, it is important to take into account the context of these matches, what preceded them and what they were accompanied by. Our team lost the first meeting with Lokomotiv (1:2) and this defeat ended the white-blues' performance in the Winline Russian Cup. Last season, Dynamo stopped at the 1/8 final stage, where they suffered a heavy defeat to another giant of our football – Women's Football Club CSKA (1:4). This year, Sergei Lavrentyev's charges reached the quarterfinals of the tournament, but this can hardly be a strong consolation, given that in the semifinals, the winner of the Novogorsk duel was awaited by Chertanovo, which sensationally knocked Zenit from St. Petersburg out of the cup.

The next match was a trip to St. Petersburg, just for the game with Zenit. And here the white-blues fell under the hot hand of the St. Petersburg women, angry about their failure in the cup. The hosts started with a quick goal, and by the 74th minute they were already winning with a score of 5:1. The Dynamo team was able to respond with only two goals from Kristina Komissarova and Kaylan Williams, which were largely created not thanks to, but in spite of – the gross errors of Zenit goalkeeper Yulia Grichenko helped. And on the one hand, the meeting in St. Petersburg brought the white-blues long-awaited goals against Zenit, but the final result (a 2:5 defeat) not only prolonged Dynamo's failures in August, but also complicated the white-blues' fight for third place, which they are waging with Spartak and Lokomotiv.

And now the circle is closed – another meeting with Lokomotiv, only this time not in the Winline Cup of Russia, but in the Super League, and not in Novogorsk, but at the RZD Arena in Moscow. And if for Lokomotiv the match at the main arena of the football club was the first this season, then for Dynamo this is the first ever meeting at a stadium of this level.

So August 2024 brought so many emotions to our club that we can admit: perhaps this was the decisive period of this season for the Dynamo women's team.

The game itself became practically a copy of the match in Novogorsk at the beginning of this month, both in terms of result and even the scorers.

Dynamo continued to surprise with its starting lineup. This time, the coaching staff of the blue-whites decided to play with three central defenders: Yulia Bessolova, José-Diana Pamen Tchato and Tanya Malesia started. On the flanks in defense were Maria Galay and Kamilla Abashilova, and the attacking line was made up of Komissarova – Shesternyova – Mustafayeva – Williams. In general, more experiments in the starting lineup, which, on the one hand, were forced, on the other, seemed like a gesture of despair. As the game showed, first impressions were not deceptive.

The active start by the hosts of the RZD Arena, where this match took place, did not come as a surprise at all. By the way, after matches on an artificial field in Novogorsk, and at most arenas in the Super League, playing on the huge field with natural turf of the RZD Arena seemed unusual for both teams, not just for Dynamo players.

However, the hosts of the arena in Cherkizovo coped with the unusual sensations faster. Already in the 13th minute, Loko midfielder Emmanuelle Fayvor scored such a beautiful goal into the top corner of Diana Ponomaryova's goal that it reminded of the best matches of men's Lokomotiv at the same stadium. The start turned out to be discouraging, there's no denying it

To gather their thoughts and finally organize something dangerous in the attack, the blue-and-white needed 15 minutes. And the most surprising thing is that almost the very first moment of the game could bring success to the Dynamo players. After the goalkeeper of Loko, Angelina Geier, kicked the ball outside the penalty area after a corner kick, it was picked up by Elena Shesternyova and she charged her signature shot. Only the crossbar saved the hosts!

The railway players, invigorated by such an attack from the guests, again began to pressurize the opponents' half of the field. It was clear that they were clearly not satisfied with just one goal, although it was so beautiful and somewhat crazy. But for the time being, the Dynamo players fought off the attacks of the red-greens until... they started making mistakes themselves.

A few minutes before the halftime whistle, Elena Chubrilo scored again, having scored a brace two weeks ago in the quarterfinal match of the Winline Cup of Russia. However, this time the Serbian player took advantage of careless actions of the Dynamo captain, Yulia Bessolova. That's why this goal was more painful and overall the score was 0:2 in favor of the hosts at halftime.

Dynamo started the second half with a double substitution: Milena Nikitina and Tijana Matić replaced Malesija and Mustafaeva. However, our girls did not play brightly after these substitutions, unlike their rivals. A series of chances involving the same Chubrilo could have brought the score to a crushing defeat by the middle of the second half

During this time, the blue-and-white team had only one chance, but it was a very good one. Elina Samoylova took a direct free kick and just a few centimeters were missing for her to send the ball past Angelina Geier.

And Lokomotiv and Chubrilo finally achieved their goal: in the 78th minute, another failure of Dynamo's defense ended with a Serbian player facing the goalkeeper alone and scoring her fourth goal against Dynamo in two matches... The summer newcomer of Lokomotiv found her team, unfortunately.

As in the previous cup match, Sergei Lavrentiev's team managed to score a goal at the end of the game — Maria Galay scored after a great pass from Matić, but again, it could not significantly affect the outcome of the match.

We lose to Lokomotiv again (1:3), but now in the Super League, and make our fight for third place and bronze medals more difficult.

For full information about starting lineups and events of the meeting, see the match center .