Zenit are held back in Voronezh

RPL Matchday 12
Fakel Voronezh 1-1 Zenit St. Petersburg
Saturday 8 October, Central Stadium of Trade Unions, Voronezh

Goals: Fakel – Gongadze (12); Zenit – Malcom (28)
Man of the Match: Sergey Bozhin (Fakel)

RPL leaders visited Voronezh for the first time in 21 years but faced serious pressure from Fakel team and crowd. The hosts scored after the corner kick in the third straight game, this time Georgy Gongadze hit the header after getting the cross from captain Roman Akbashev. As combination plays did not make the impact, Zenit found another way to get the equalizer. Malcom caught long pass from Dejan Lovren and scored his eighth goal this season staying as Zenit top scorer.

The Brazilian star was the most active with six shots in total and missed great chance to get the brace but sent the ball above the bar. Second half mostly went near Fakel box, and the hosts stood firm to keep the draw against leaders. All three draws St. Petersburg side earned on the road, and Voronezh still unbeaten in the league under Dmitry Pyatibratov with one win and three draws.

Zenit stay top with 30 points, while Fakel keep 13th on ten points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 15 October – Khimki vs Fakel; Sunday 16 October – Pari NN vs Zenit