CONTROL OF GREATER COMPLEXITY
“Ural” at the start of the current season of the Russian Premier League seriously surprised many. According to the results of the first five rounds, Viktor Goncharenko’s team did not suffer a single defeat and, together with Krasnodar, led the standings. It’s hard to find a better gift for the city on its 300th anniversary. Moreover, there was actually nothing to reproach the residents of Yekaterinburg for. Since the beginning of the season, the team struggled with an epidemic of injuries, and as for the “necks” of the defeated rivals, among them were CSKA and the capital’s Spartak.
But one of the main sensations at the beginning of the championship was the next in line for another important test – Zenit, which gradually gained momentum. And the match with the champion in the Urals did not work out from the very beginning. The guests immediately fell under the powerful pressure of the blue-white-blue attacks. After a dangerous shot by Mateo Casierra, sporting luck played on the side of Yekaterinburg, but then the balls fell like a cornucopia into the goal of Ilya Pomazun.
BEST TIME OF THE SEASON
To start, Sergeev dispersed Zenit’s attack, handed the ball to Claudinho and ran to the far post hoping for a return pass. The Brazilian did not become greedy and cut off a filigree pass on Iván, leaving the entire defense of the guests out of work. Sergeev only had to not miss the empty corner and seized the opportunity, putting Saint Petersburg ahead.
FC Zenit
Besides. Zenit kept pressing and soon increased the lead at the end of the half hour of the game. Another quick attack by the locals ended with Casierra entering a shock position, who gracefully seated Pomazun on the grass and gently sent the ball into the net left by the goalkeeper.
The first half ended with embarrassment for the Ural goalkeeper, after which the score became large. Mingiyan Beveev responded to Pomazun, who tried to demonstrate Manuel Neuer-style ball handling technique. But instead, he inadvertently gave a pass to Zenit’s third goal. Claudinho took advantage of a valuable gift and surrounded the goalkeeper with a fancy parachute.
FC Zenit
3:0 – and in this match everything became completely clear at the break. Perhaps none of the teams in our championship will be able to regain such an advantage from Petersburg. At the same time, the rivals had to spend another whole half on the field. And it was interesting to see how the current Urals can take a hit and whether the recent leader will completely fall apart.
FINAL AGREEMENT
Before the whistle was blown at the start of the second half of the match, Goncharenko made two substitutions, leaving Timur Ayupov and Ilya Ishkov, the hero of the first round, on the field. Ural finally began to cling to the ball, and everything would be fine for the residents of Yekaterinburg if they could forget about the sad baggage with which the guests went to the locker room. Zenit, for their part, acted according to the score, without trying to force the game in a game that was almost won.
Sergei Semak’s team was easy to understand – no one needs unexpected injuries at the beginning of the season. At the same time, it was impossible to say that the blue and whites were going on the defensive. All his approaches to the doors of Pomazún hid a danger for the doors of the guests.
FC Zenit
And the fourth goal scored at the end did not escape Zenit. Beveev played imprecisely into his goal again and Casierra repeated the trick performed in the first half: the Ural goalkeeper watched the episode again, sitting on the grass.
4:0: Sergei Semak’s team gives another answer to all the doubters and is now only one point behind the table leader in Krasnodar.
