Akhmat Grozny 0-2 Zenit St. Petersburg
Saturday 9 April, Akhmat Arena

Goals: Zenit - Alberto 39’, Erokhin 90’
Man of the Match: Yuri Alberto (Zenit)

Just as the game appeared to be reverting to type with the sides level minutes before the break, Yuri Alberto ripped up the script and curled a sensational effort into the top corner.

Zenit had drawn their last four RPL visits to Grozny - and lost the two before that - and although they controlled the statistics with seven shots (four on target) to Akhmat’s one in the first half, they hadn’t truly tested Giorgi Shelia.

In fact it was Evgeny Kharin who blazed over what had been the clearest chance just a few minutes in when clear through.

The champions held firm for most of the second period, as Magomed Ozdoev was handed some minutes on his gradual easing back into action, but there were some scares.

Senin Sebai raced clear with less than quarter of an hour to go, and with just a slightly better touch he could have been one on one. Kharin stumbled in the box moments later with a scrambled effort, before a deflected Sebai effort ended up safely in Mikhail Kerzhakov’s arms.

It was Ozdoev who was central to Zenit finally put the game to bed in the last minute. His  sensible run and cutback found substitute Aleksandr Erokhin to slot in a well-worked goal, and claim a first RPL win for the champions in Grozny since 2015.

Akhmat remain seventh on 32 points, while Zenit stay top on 52 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Friday 15 April - Dynamo vs Akhmat; Saturday 16 April - Zenit vs Ural