Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala held in Russian league opener

Mowscow: Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by Lokomotiv Moscow in their opening Russian Premier League match of the new season on Sunday.

Title favourites Anzhi, who have spent around €240 million (Dh1.15 billion) since they were purchased by oil and metal tycoon Suleiman Kerimov in 2011, dominated from the start but twice champions Lokomotiv defended stoutly.

The railwaymen were dangerous on the rare occasions they counter-attacked and even took the lead in the 63rd minute when Senegalese forward Dame N’Doye netted with a close-range header.

That sparked Anzhi into action and they had soon turned the game on its head through Cameroon skipper Samuel Eto’o and Ivory Coast striker Lacina Traore, who netted just four minutes apart.

But the hosts failed to see it through as late substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko rounded off the scoring with just a minute to pull level.

Anzhi had a chance to score a winner in injury time as they were awarded a penalty after Traore was felled in the box, but Brazilian goalkeeper Marinato Guilherme kept out Eto’o’s spot kick attempt.

“We’ve lost points today,” said Anzhi manager Guus Hiddink. “We were in command but had to battle back from a goal down because of our carelessness in defence.

“My team showed the right reaction to that goal and took the lead but we failed to keep it. We’re all disappointed with the result.”