Zenit is hosting an international summer tournament in St. Petersburg for the second year in a row. This time the geography has expanded to include Argentina, as well as Crvena Zvezda and Sochi. The opening match was against Roberto Moreno’s team. Summer, pleasant weather, Gazprom Arena. Despite the fact that it was a busy working day, the stadium attracted more than six thousand fans. And these people are unlikely to be disappointed. Especially the first half.
Semak immediately decided to try out almost all the newcomers. Only goalkeeper Latyshonok was not included in the lineup. He is preparing for his upcoming meeting with Talleres. But Gorshkov, Volkov and Glushenkov are on the way out.
Moreno is also experimenting a lot. The club is forced to get rid of many foreign players, but those who remain are still very important: Marcelo and Guarirapa still determine the team’s play.
All about the Summer Cup in St. Petersburg:
Zenit will once again play in an international tournament. Even the Argentinians are among the rivals!
The match started at a leisurely pace. The defending champions opted for a 4-3-3 formation with Douglas in central defence, a powerful midfield with Wendel, Claudinho and Barrios, and Glushenkov playing as a right midfielder. But Gorshkov stood out above all the newcomers in the first half. It was as if the guy had been in St. Petersburg for several years: he took part in many attacks, did not make thoughtless crosses and already seemed integrated into the system. The ball barely went over Volkov. Glushenkov opened up in different zones, was active, but was rarely included in the game.
However, Mostovoi turned out to be the most brilliant for Zenit in the first half. He scored the first goal: he entered the box from the flank, beat two players and hit the far post. The ball hit the foot of Cassierra, perhaps the easiest goal in the striker’s life.
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A few minutes later, the Sochi team had already achieved the second goal, again with the participation of these two.
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It seemed that all this was going to end. But it turned out that Moreno’s team had not forgotten how to get back into matches. Last season they did it in the final moments, but this time they decided in the first half. The second goal was especially beautiful, when Zaika himself ran into the penalty area and hit Odoievski behind his back.
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Zenit were looking to maintain their lead before the break, and this time Mostovoy scored, responding to a pass from Claudinho.
During the break, Semak changed the entire line-up and the beginning of the second half felt like the beginning of the first. When everyone had prepared and dispersed, it was already the 60th minute. And then Erokhin scored. In general, the substitutes did not look worse than the potential starters who played in the first half. Sutormin flew down the right flank and passed the ball to Erokhin, who hit the crossbar. I started working on a new contract that I signed not long ago.
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And Gustavo Mantuan completed the goal-scoring infinity, scoring a goal after Sutormin’s second assist.
“Sochi” after the break was no longer so active, so Kerzhakov was essentially left without work.
Zenit will play their next match on July 5 against Talleres. But it is already clear that St. Petersburg are the main favourites for the RPL Summer Cup.
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