Zenit past Volga in Russian Cup Regions Path play-offs

Russian Cup play-offs
Regions Path Quarter-finals, 1st stage
Volga Ulyanovsk 0-3 Zenit St. Petersburg
Saturday 25 February, Trud Stadium, Ulyanovsk

Goals: Zenit – Bakaev (33), Cassierra (78), Sergeev (90+1)

The bottom bracket of the Cup play-offs started in Ulyanovsk, where Volga, 17th-placed in the First League hosted RPL leaders from Zenit. The guests can’t use three main players, as Rodrigao, Wilmar Barrios and Malcom are suspended for six tournament games following the fight in the match against Spartak, also Claudinho stayed in St. Petersburg. But Ulyanovsk saw Wendel, and his pass led to goal scored by Zelimkhan Bakaev, first for player in Zenit from the play.

Volga made efforts to equalize forcing Mikhail Kerzhakov to save Chingiz Magomadov free kick, but in the final minutes the visitors extended their lead through Mateo Cassierra and Ivan Sergeev goals, it was rare moment, when two strikers played together.

In the next quarter-finals stage Zenit will face one of the teams eliminated from the same stage of RPL Path. Opponent will be decided through draw procedure, and fixtures will take place in the middle of March between RPL Matchdays 19 and 20.