Zenit won on a new one – Sport – Kommersant

In St. Petersburg, within the framework of the fifth round of the Russian Football Championship, without exaggeration, one of the most important matches of the season took place, in which Zenit was opposed, perhaps, by its closest rival in the fight for the title – CSKA. The Petersburgers prevailed – 2:1, but the victory was given to them with difficulty. With 11 points, they climbed to first place, while the army team remained with their ten. Draw (0:0) was played by Dynamo and Krasnodar, which are also included in the group of leaders with nine and eight points, respectively.

Although there is only the fifth round on the calendar, the match between Zenit and CSKA could be called decisive in the gold race. If anyone showed at the start of the Russian championship that he is able to challenge the Petersburgers, and the probability of their fifth consecutive victory in the Premier League is estimated at almost 99%, it is primarily the army team. The red-blues, under the guidance of the new head coach Vladimir Fedotov, simply changed, despite the fact that even in the pre-season they looked very, very pale, somehow hopelessly losing to the same Zenit 0:3. But by the fifth round, they were ahead of the champion and the main favorite of the season by two points, and they scored two goals more. In general, CSKA could have won all four of its matches with a big score, including with Pari Nizhny Novgorod, which ended in a draw, if Fedotov’s wards had not been let down by the implementation.

It seemed that right now the Moscow club is hot enough to kill Zenit, until the team of Sergei Semak seems to have gained momentum and is being drawn into the championship. And besides, she suffered two very significant personnel losses – Claudinho recently joined the injured Daler Kuzyaev. The Brazilian in the starting lineup was replaced by Zelimkhan Bakaev. Semak made another permutation in the forward position, instead of Mateo Cassierra, releasing Ivan Sergeyev from the first minutes, and Mikhail Kerzhakov took the place of goalkeeper Daniil Odoevsky, who was removed in the last round. At the same time, Fedotov surprised by leaving his main playmaker Jorge Carrascal in reserve. According to the coach, the Colombian had certain health problems. But the rookie of the army team Victor Mendez immediately came out, having the functionality of a classic defensive midfielder, and Moises acted on the left in the absence of Ivan Oblyakov, who received a microtrauma.

Literally from the first touches of the ball and martial arts, it was clear that CSKA was really a serious irritant for Zenit.

The hosts decided to open an account as quickly as possible, pressed the Muscovites to the gate and made several sharp approaches. Almost led to a goal by the connection of the central defender Dejan Lovren to the “standard”. Then Malcom jumped out on a date with Igor Akinfeev, but failed to adjust to the partner’s not the most convenient transfer and, as they say, kicked. Well, soon the army team and Akinfeev had to help out, after the active Bakaev brought Sergeev to the blow. The most experienced goalkeeper, as always, correctly located at the gate. But CSKA’s counterplay was absolutely not glued. Of course, the guests missed the intricate Carrascal.

Meanwhile, constantly defending against the “Zenith” is very difficult. Moreover, at the end of the first half, the Petersburgers again increased the pressure. Malcolm earned and executed a dangerous free kick, slightly under-rotating the ball into the “nine” and giving Akinfeev a chance to save. Another captain of CSKA repelled the blow of the captain of “Zenith” Lovren. Still, the army team did not endure until the break. In stoppage time, they were again tightly pressed to the goal, but not at all tightly patronized Malcolm, who, being on the border of the semicircle of the penalty area, spun the ball into the corner with his left foot. Akinfeev tore and metal, outraged by the connivance of his oporniks. The Brazilian’s goal in the locker room really turned out to be insulting.

It is clear that in the second half CSKA had to change to much more attacking football. To do this, Carrascal appeared on the field, replacing the unremembered Mendez. With the Colombian, the Muscovites’ game really went more fun. They began to go into someone else’s penalty area more often and create a fuss there. True, the red-blue did not bother Kerzhakov directly, but in order to recoup, they did not need it. Fedor Chalov set himself up under the central defender of Zenit Rodrigao, and the referee Pavel Kukuyan appointed a penalty without hesitation. Chalov himself realized it. Moreover, the army team gradually seized the initiative, and one of their attacks even ended in a goal. But, according to the judges, Carrascal in the episode that preceded the exact blow of Nikita Ermakov, got offside. Meanwhile, the moment was not obvious, given that the Russian VAR system this season works without offside lines, so the analysis was carried out by eye. And if the linesman had not raised the flag after a long pause, it is possible that the goal would have been counted.

And as a result, not only a possible victory, but even an honorable draw slipped away from Fedotov’s hands. Another Brazilian made his debut in Zenit – rented from Corinthians in exchange for Yuri Alberto Gustavo Mantuan. The 21-year-old midfielder burst into the game so briskly from the bench that in a matter of minutes he scored the first and such an important goal in Russia. Thanks to the wall with Malcolm, Mantua found a free zone in the CSKA defense, approached the penalty area and charged from a fairly long distance, very close to the post. Akinfeev did not pull out, and the Petersburgers pulled out three points – 2:1. With 11 points, they again topped the standings. However, CSKA may be satisfied to some extent that they forced the fight on the road to Zenit. CSKA have confirmed their competitiveness.

Two more matches of the fifth round took place in Moscow. Dynamo hosted Krasnodar, and for the Muscovites, with their eight points, Zenit served as a guide, and the Kuban, who were one point behind them, could catch up with CSKA. In the confrontation between equal opponents, there were very few scoring chances, so it is logical that neither one nor the other managed to soak the zeros. Probably the coolest moment was missed in the second half by the guests’ midfielder Nikita Krivtsov, who hit without interference from the most advantageous position right in front of the goal. Dynamo now has nine points, like Sochi, and Krasnodar has eight, like Rostov. But the Sochi players have a meeting with Spartak ahead, and the Rostovites will play with Nizhny Novgorod.

Still cannot win the first victory in the Lokomotiv championship. And the railway workers were also lucky that they rebounded at the very end of the home match with Krylya Sovetov, equalizing the score with a penalty kick, which was given to them by Vladimir Khubulov, who unjustifiably violated the rules, from Samara. But a draw (1:1) did not bring them tangible dividends, and with three points they have so far crawled only from 14th place to 13th.

Alexander Ilyin