Riyadh: Uzbekistan international goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov ensured Lokomotiv will go into the second leg of their 2016 AFC Champions League Round of 16 meeting with Al Hilal with a strong chance of reaching the last eight after the teams drew 0-0 at the King Fahd International Stadium on Tuesday.
Nesterov twice denied the dominant Saudis gilt-edged opportunities to take a slender advantage into the return leg in Uzbekistan and the two teams will meet in Tashkent next week with the outcome – and a place in the quarter-finals - still in the balance.
Lokomotiv, unbeaten in the competition so far this season and winners of Group A, looked to maintain their strong performances away from home and were set up from the beginning to give very little away.
Al Hilal dominated possession but had few goal scoring opportunities to show from their control of proceedings until Carlos Eduardo put the ball in the net just before the half-hour mark, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Nawaf Al Abid tried his luck on several occasions in the lead up to the half time whistle, with Nesterov dropping to his right to deny the 26-year-old before seeing another attempt soon after sail over the bar.
With seconds left on the clock, Brazilian striker Ailton emerged from a group of players to head the ball goalward, but his attempt flew over the target.
Al Hilal continued to push for the opener in the second half, only to find Nesterov in inspired form 10 minutes after the break when the goalkeeper dropped sharply to his left to claw away Salem Al Dawsari’s shot as it looked destined for the bottom corner.
Finally, as the second half wore on, Lokomotiv eked out a pair of half-chances. As the game approached its final quarter, Ikromjon Alibaev’s attempt was pulled just wide of the target while the midfielder tried again soon after, only for Fahad Al Thunayyan to comfortably collect.
With seven minutes to go, Nesterov saved his side again, this time using his feet to keep out Khalid Kaabi’s close-range attempt to ensure another tense tussle in Tashkent next Tuesday.
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