A very strong match from the season’s favorite.
Krasnodar didn’t have enough of Krivtsov’s shot
The visitors contained only one notable surprise. In midfield, instead of the main midfielder Lenin, Krivtsov came off. Nikita replaced the midfielder when Eduard was injured. Now, the leader could have left the field in the opening minutes. But instead of a more defensive Lenin, coach Musaev chose playmaker Krivtsov. As a result, the gamble paid off. Zenit’s Louis Enrique’s pass led to a Krasnodar counterattack. Krivtsov and Cordoba created a goal without the support of their teammates. The Colombian striker outran Erakovich and flicked the ball under Nikita’s touch.
Krivtsov cruelly threw goalkeeper Latvonka. The “Citizens” controlled the ball well, mainly through the right edge. But at Zenit, the game in the opening minutes of the home match didn’t work out. Semak chose Glushenkov. Maxim earned a substitute appearance in the last round against Lokomotiv. Sobolev wasn’t on the starting lineup, Semak trusted the Argentine Gond. Lusiano scored the winning goal. Krasnodar’s goal rolled past their goalkeeper, but it was placed competently. Nothing foreshadowed future problems.
The teams played the same 4-2-3-1 formations. Zenit couldn’t develop well-thought-out, long-term positional attacks. There were rule violations, and the ball often turned over to Krasnodar. Semak was very nervous on the bench and often tried to communicate with the reserve referee. The visitors worked more calmly, often finding free zones in the other half of the field. Vendel and Barrios didn’t help Zenit cool down in attack, and the flanks—Mantua and Santos—were constantly guarded by the fresh insiders of Olusegun and Batchi.
The teams proved their status as league leaders.
The quality teams performed. It was clear that Krasnodar wasn’t functionally inferior to Zenit. But this is a personal level for each team. Even when the St. Petersburgers are far from optimal condition, they can score important goals. Agrkatsev leveled the score after Siva in the middle of the first half. The Krasnodar goalkeeper could be criticized for a technical error. Glashenkov’s long-range shot wasn’t easy, but Stanislav knocked the ball aside exactly for the opponent. The Krasnodar defenders didn’t have time for Mostov to help his colleague.
The game was a game without a goal, with minimal opportunities. But the insidious players of both teams managed to move centrally. Enrique tried to respond to Cordoba’s shirt, but preferred to simulate rather than try to set the program. In the first half, there was often a reliance on high-speed individual inclusions. Neither team was able to command the final third. They waited for support, but more often than not, they didn’t receive it. One-on-ones broke the opponent’s lines. But through long combinations, the opponents didn’t create any obvious opportunities.
But he played short passes. Glushenkov, Mostovoy, and Honda played attack on the left. The Argentine proved his ability to score from awkward positions, setting up his knee. At this point, you can’t blame Agrkatsev, but you can again pay attention to Giovanni’s actions on the right flank of Krasnodar’s defense. Zenit found themselves in the game when they scored two goals before halftime. It became easier to work with. They weren’t in a hurry to open the scoring, but instead seized the initiative. The champions entered the game-winning defense mode in the most important home game against a very strong opponent.
Semak used old tactics.
At the start of the second half, Zenit attacked with a narrow four-man block. They were given the “4-2-4” formation. Wendel and Barrios didn’t advance, but Honda, Glashenkov, Enrique, and P.M. worked without stretching the lines of the others. And when Zenit gave the ball away, they rebuilt to a 4-5-1, successfully reversing the rhythm of Krasnodar’s attacks. Citizens failed to play after Zenit’s second goal. Musaev brought on three new players, replacing Chernikov with a pass, Giovanni with positional errors and a passive lot shot.
Zenit was in no rush to make substitutions, believing in the chosen plan. Semak calmed the field from a nervous segment at the beginning of the match. In Krasnodar, the attacks with shots were not glued together. Cordoba was forced to play with his back to the goal. Speersyan played in a half-hour format and didn’t find himself in a good position for shots. The players were afraid of missing the third ball, seeing the progress of Zenit’s commanding actions. Compared to other tough matches against strong rivals, the players and Semak liked today.
The players were tired. There were excess breaks. Zenit tried to stretch them out so it would be easier to draw the game with an advantage. Krasnodar lacked players who could take the game. Olusegun made way for the experienced Smolov. Fedor sometimes managed to make a substitution, but in such a game, it was difficult to catch the ball. Zenit was more competent than Krasnodar when it came to finishing the game. While the match was overturned with two goals, they kept the southern guests by the throat.
Zenit won a big home victory.
Krasnodar has previously experienced similar nuances. The team doesn’t have the most powerful full-backs. Olas and his right-wing partners haven’t created any opportunities. Lenin’s influence on the game was excellent last year, when the midfield accelerated in the style of Martins at Spartak. Now, the midfield has been replaced, but hasn’t changed the game. Batchi and Olusegun lack the class of Moses. And Cordoba, like any great striker, depends on the moments and the passing of his partners. Today, John fought, not created.
Zenit rallied, understanding the importance of the moment. The defeat meant minus eight points in the table, and the victory reduced the gap to two. After Spartak’s defeat, it was important to take advantage of the situation. And Krasnodar was exhausted. As if they were in a stupor. In some past matches, even against Achron, the ease of play wasn’t enough. But before the trip to St. Petersburg, Musaev’s team knew what to do more often. Zenit, however, is forced to make key mistakes. For example, overpassing at the bridge.
When winger Andrei was replaced by defender Drekushich, he recalled another Zenit Trump Card. The fans interfered against Krasnodar. Musaev’s team for the first time this season RPL Lost on the road. The defensive line can be safely blamed. Although the attack didn’t work at the Latvian’s goal. Glushenkov supported the zeal at the bridge, scoring his team’s third goal into the near corner. And a little later, Enrique added an important fourth goal for his team. Zenit confidently defeated the main contender in the title fight.
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