Victor Moses plays his first game under new Spartak Moscow coach in loss to Neftchi

A day after the Russian transfer window officially opened for business, former Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses played his first game under new Spartak Moscow boss Rui Vitória but it ended in defeat, with the Red and Whites losing 2-1 to Azerbaijani opposition FK Neftchi on Tuesday evening.

Spartak Moscow fielded a weakened team with Russians Georgiy Dzhikiya, Roman Zobnin and Alexander Sobolev, as well as Dutchman Quincy Promes unavailable for selection after the elimination of their national teams from the European Championship, while Czech Alex Kral and Swede Jordan Larsson are still involved in the tournament.

Namig Alasgarov opened the scoring on 8 minutes, Mikhail Ignatov restored parity for the Russian Premier League team in the 43rd minute and Harramiz Soares scored the winning goal in first half injury time.

Two Nigerians in the shape of Spartak Moscow's Moses and FK Neftchi winger Yusuf Lawal came off the bench at half-time.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner replaced Glushenkov who started the game on the right flank of the attack in a 4-2-3-1 system, Vitória's preferred formation.

Moses and his teammates face Slovenian club NK Bravo in their next pre-season game on Friday, July 2.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : spartak.com