The meeting ended with a victory for the hosts with a score of 1:0. The only goal of the match was scored by Ivan Sergeev in the 87th minute.
For the cup match, Sergei Semak decided to change the formation to 3-4-2-1. And while the hosts got used to the new scheme, the “Wings” rushed to the attack. Khubulov went one-on-one, but Kerzhakov kept the goal intact. After that, Osinkin’s team played four corners, but to no avail. The hosts were then able to bounce back. We took possession of the ball and actively pressed. The St. Petersburg team began to develop dangerous standards, and the great Erokhin took over. First, the midfielder hit Mostovoy, who was standing on the goal line, and then shot higher. Samara was no longer able to create further difficulties in front of the opposing goal. However, like Zenit.
During the break, Semak replaced Renan and Sutormin with Mantuan and Sergeev. But the changes did not prevent the guests from going on the attack again from the first minutes. The “Wings” managed to score three hits in one attack, but again to no avail.
After 15 minutes, Ivan Sergeev opened the scoring in the match. Zenit carried out a rapid attack and the former player of the Samara club sent the ball into the goal with one touch. But the goal was canceled due to a handball from Kovalenko. The referee, after watching the replay, decided to cancel the goal. But Sergeev didn’t have to cry for long. The Krylia goalkeeper knocked the ball away from the goal, Erokhin headed it back. Sergeev escaped from two defenders and threw the ball past Lomaev. According to the game, Samara had every chance of winning. According to the shooting statistics, the guests were stronger 9 to 6 of Zenit (4:1 on target).
“It was a difficult cup match. There was a lot of wrestling, martial arts, marriage. But in any case, it’s good that we won, we will prepare for the next match. The main task here is to qualify for the playoffs first or second place. There is a slight difference between first and second place. You always want to win from the point of view of your emotional state, from the point of view of your position in the group. First place is always better than second,” Semak said after winning the match.
“We were not motivated. We knew what place we were going to take. We understood that this match would take place in a good stadium, that it would be broadcast on the federal channel. We tried to play as best as possible. We would have could hope for a draw. We created almost the same number of chances. But we couldn’t resist in the end, we missed an unnecessary goal. It was because of fatigue and concentration. This Cup ultimately didn’t work for us, we were once again convinced of that,” Osinkin commented on his team’s defeat.
Zenit, having won, scored 14 points and secured access to the playoffs. “Krylya Sovetov” suffered its fifth defeat and took the last place in group C. Osinkin’s team began to have problems: the Samara team had not won for five matches in all tournaments. “Zenith”, on the contrary, made everyone realize that he had been written off earlier. The St. Petersburg team came very close to the first place in the championship and qualified from the first line for the playoffs of the RPL course of the Russian Cup.
Yahya Hasanov, Athletistic
Source: Sport
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
