Dynamo could not resist and did not play. RPL, round 10, Dynamo 0:2 Zenit

The team of Sergei Semak defeated the blue and white at the stadium in Petrovsky Park. Zenit gave the best start in the history of the RPL: ​​26 points after 10 rounds, the goal difference is 29:3. RPL. 10th round. Lev Yashin Stadium. Dynamo 0:2 Zenit. Goals: Mostovoy, 37, Mantuan, 90+3.

Dynamo failed the exam for competitiveness: with such a game, it’s definitely not fate to fight for the championship.

Zenit entered the green lawn of the stadium bearing the name of the only goalkeeper, the owner of the Golden Ball, with the same line-up as in the last round of the RPL. But Semak changed players in all 11 positions compared to the Cup game against Krylia. The hosts also started with three newcomers: right-back Das, defensive midfielder Norman and winger Ngamalyo.

But Jokanovic’s team definitely “forgot” to enter the first half. Dynamo created two chances in the whole game: in the 60th minute Daniil Fomin hit the crossbar, and at the very end of the meeting the only shot on target was “dragged” by St. Petersburg goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov. The fans did not count on this, almost completely filling the stands of the stadium’s handsome man.

Although Dynamo gave the initiative and the ball to Zenit, they turned on high pressure, which greatly hampered the attacking actions of the champion. The hosts literally “hung” on the feet of the Zenit team, and the referee of the meeting, Karasev, also helped the Dynamo team. At least two or three fouls, he “did not notice.” Peter can also show the Moscow referee his main prank: Sazonov hit Lovren in the penalty area with his hand, but Karasev did not consider this a reason for appointing a penalty kick, and VAR decided that the chief referee did not make a clear mistake.

“Zenith” dominated the entire match, and two strokes were enough for them to take away the victory from the Mother See. However, the first time St. Petersburg ruined. Left-back Douglas Santos unexpectedly opened between the lines in midfield, but failed to adjust, either the ball under the foot, or the foot under the ball. Saba Sazonov was mistaken for Dynamo: with standards, Lovren won the fight against the young pupil of Zenit and was close to a goal twice. Didn’t work out…

Petersburgers scored after Norman’s grossest mistake. Zenit player Ivan Sergeev put pressure on the Norwegian and made an assist to Mostovoy. It was easier for Andrei to score than not to score. Shunin had no chance to save the net from the penetration of the ball. The Israeli Das also messed up, who lost possession seven times.

The Muscovites had to show themselves as leaders Smolov, as the main forward of the Russian national team, and Zakharyan, who needs to prove that he is ready for Chelsea. But neither Fedor nor Arsen even came close not only to a goal, but even to touching the ball. Smolov only in the second half, for the first time took the ball to the boot. And Zakharyan scored only with a yellow card.

Dynamo can complain about the removal of (another) Fernandez for the second yellow card on Sergeev. But these problems are clearly not Zenith. The Paraguayan brings the team down for the second time, and something needs to be done about it. Jokanovic had to release not quite ready Marichal.

“Zenith”, having a numerical advantage, somehow behaved imposingly. Dynamo even approached Kerzhakov’s possessions a couple of times (which is at the beginning of the report), and Semak calmed the game by switching to the three central defenders. Claudinho, who came out towards the end of the meeting, was creative: his thin pass with his heel “ruined” Rodrigao. Dynamo hit the target for the first time only in the 95th minute, which was also mentioned above, and Zenit doubled the lead when Mantouan ran away from Sazonov. And again, no questions to Shunin.

Questions to the Dynamo coaching staff and to the dedication of the white-and-blue football players. There are almost two weeks to search for answers.

The correspondent of our publication asked the winning coach two questions. Sergei Semak was verbose.

– Dynamo did not reach the first half at all, only the second. Did you expect it to be so easy to play?

“I can’t say that it was easy for us. If Dynamo gave up the initiative, this does not mean that it was easy. Probably the most obvious moment was when one of the players slipped in the episode with Karavaev. Prior to that, they had the advantage. As for control, there were not so many such critical moments. Naturally, Dynamo probably had a plan, these are the moments that we observed in the first half: tackle, quick attack, about what Douglas earned a card on. Basically, they were waiting for their chance before the game turned the other way. In the second half, of course, we had to win back, we moved forward more actively and aggressively. And we had chances, they were very good, but we couldn’t score. And after the removal, of course, it became even more difficult for the Dynamo team to return to a positive result for them. And we were able to score in the very end. Such a nervous, laborious, but, in my opinion, absolutely deserved victory.

– This afternoon CSKA lost, you just won against Dynamo. Is the championship over?

Our job is to work. You have no idea how much effort football players and coaches spend to prepare for each specific match. Now four points away from second place, play another 20 matches. Everything can absolutely happen. Any team that demonstrates some kind of series is approaching us. As soon as we make a misfire one or two… At the beginning of the season we lost points, everyone immediately started talking… There is still a lot to play, I have already said that the team that will play more consistently will be at the top. There will be downturns. Unsuccessful matches will be with us and with other clubs. Of course we want to minimize, but that’s not possible. Therefore, our task is to pass the most smoothly, lose less points and keep the guys in good functional condition.

My question to the Dynamo coach about why the team “forgot to go to the first half” surprised Slavisa Jokanovic: “I don’t have the feeling that we played bad football. From the starting whistle, we understood that Zenit would have an advantage in possession of the ball. In the first half there were moments when we ran out to counterattack. We made a fatal mistake, after which we conceded a goal, there were approaches to the opponent’s goal. In the second half, the second yellow card of Fernandez, which turned into a red one, became decisive. Then Zenit didn’t let us go.”

It seems that only Valery Karpin and his Rostov remained in the RPL, who are ready to fight Zenit for the championship gold. They will meet in a full-time duel on October 2 in the city on the Neva.

Vladimir Sabadash.

Photo: Sergey Vinogradov.