2nd half performance earns Zenit five-goal win

RPL Matchday 3
Zenit St. Petersburg 5-0 Lokomotiv Moscow
Saturday 30 July, Gazprom Arena, St. Petersburg

Goals: Zenit - Wendel (63), Claudinho (76), Sergeev (80, 90+3), Bakaev (pen 90+1)
Sent off: Lokomotiv - Barinov (90)
Man of the Match: Claudinho (Zenit)

Last times Zenit hosted Lokomotiv, the matches became gold for Sergey Semak’s team with 6-1 win in 2021 and 3-1 win earlier this year. The current champions started with one change, as Aleksey Sutormin replaced injured Daler Kuzyaev. The Railwaymen lost Lucas Fasson due to cruciate ligament injury and Alexis Beka Beka due to suspension and his preparations on move to the new club, so Stanislav Magkeev joined Tin Jedvaj as centreback, and Artem Karpukas made the start alongside Dmitry Barinov in the midfield.

There were problems for the hosts, as Francois Kamano escaped from defenders trying to score twice, but the ball was stopped by Daniil Odoevsky and Wendel. Daniil Khudyakov had more job to deal with, there were lucky moment, when Andrey Mostovoy tried to finish from Sutormin’s cross, but missed the empty corner. The first half came to an end with goalless draw, so Zenit continued their pressure in the second. Finally, they broke the deadlock, when South American combination including Claudinho’s back heel pass, Mateo Cassierra’s attempt to shot was finished by Wendel. Brazilians caught courage, and later Malcom assisted Claudinho, who scored the second on the turnaround.

Then the result was made by those, who came from the bench. Zelimkhan Bakaev and Ivan Sergeev immediately ran in the attack after appearing in the pitch, and Sergeev turned Bakaev’s pass into the third goal. Former Spartak player got his chance, when Malcom earned a penalty, it also became a red card for Barinov. Bakaev beat Khudyakov from the spot, and couple minutes later Sergeev made it 5-0 after tipping the pass from another substitute Arsen Adamov.

Zenit have intermediate lead in the standings on seven points, while Lokomotiv is twelve on two points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 6 August - Krasnodar vs Lokomotiv, Akhmat vs Zenit