The match between Zenit and Rostov was supposed to be the last chance to keep the intrigue in the RPL. However, hardly anyone seriously believed that Valery Karpin and the company would be able to seriously impose a fight on the champion of recent years in his native walls. Nevertheless, the guests managed to surprise.
Karpin came up with a very bold plan against Zenit, and it might even work. But, in the end, the Petersburgers still put the squeeze on.
“Rostov” simply did not have enough strength!
Possession kills
From the very beginning of the meeting, Rostov began to demonstrate a very unexpected plan for the match. The defenders played the ball quite risky in their own half of the field, trying to get out of the defense through a pass. Sometimes even goalkeeper Sergei Pesyakov was involved in this process, several times he rose almost to the position of left back. Several times the guests managed to cut off opponents from the ball in this way and go into a fast attack. However, the feeling of reliability did not arise …
“Rostov” did not hesitate to own the ball, but against “Zenith” it is very dangerous. Sergey Semak’s team knows how to put pressure and catch an opponent in a course change. And as soon as the Petersburgers got used to Karpin’s extraordinary plan, they immediately punished the guests for their negligence. A bad pass, an interception by Claudinho, a vertical pass – and now Malcolm scatters the defenders in the penalty area with his Brazilian feints and rolls the ball into the far corner.
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It is curious that after this slap in the face, Rostov still did not give up his jokes. However, Karpin’s team created the most dangerous moment with a long cast. Nikolay Komlichenko won the fight against Dejan Lovren and went one on one. True, the striker failed to beat Mikhail Kerzhakov: Komlichenko fell and began to demand a penalty, but Vladimir Moskalev considered the contact insufficient.
At the end of the half, Zenit could double the lead. “Rostov” was again caught on the counterattack after a cut. Andrey Mostovoy, who was recognized last month as the club’s best player, found himself in a striking position, but began to improve it and as a result lost a lot of time. This time, Pesyakov turned out to be stronger than the Zenit attack. Karpin, meanwhile, could only shrug on the edge. He was clearly counting on a slightly different picture.
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Rostov is back
The second half started for Zenit not at all as rosy as the first. Already in the 47th minute, Rostov had a combination through the right flank. Oleksandr Silyanov crossed, and Komlichenko, in great style, got ahead of Lovren and drove the ball into the goal from the crossbar. The Zenit Croatian again lost the fight to the Russian – and this already looked like a problem. And Rostovites immediately ran joyfully to congratulate the hero. The guests returned to the game, in which they have already begun to bury.
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Having equalized, Rostov continued to stick to its line. The team continued to play the ball at their own goal, trying to get out through the pass. Mistakes have not gone away, and if the Zenit team were quicker, they would soon take the lead again. However, guests also need to pay tribute to the commitment to the principles. Playing so boldly against Zenit is worth a lot!
After some time, emotions subsided, and Zenit took possession of the ball. Rodrigao even loaded from outside the penalty area into the post, but it was impossible to say that the home team had a total advantage. “Rostov” seemed to shrink and began to act more cautiously. Or maybe just tired.
“Zenith” presses
I really wanted to believe that the Karpin gang would be able to catch at least a point. Connoisseurs of Russian football are not spoiled by intrigue in the championship, and even a draw would be a temporary consolation. But Zenit is a hegemon for that, because it can squeeze and squeeze. And Rostov again got a goal on the opposite course.
Maxim Osipenko unsuccessfully knocked out the ball after a long throw, and Wendel picked it up. The Brazilian immediately dispersed the counterattack, outplayed Ivan Sergeev and calmly rolled into the bottom corner, under Pesyakov’s supporting leg. And then performed another creative celebration.
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The Rostov ran out of steam and sank deeper and deeper. It is not surprising that in the 77th minute the outcome of the game was finally decided. Malcolm cut out a chic transfer to Daler Kuzyaev. The Russian went one on one and easily dealt with Pesyakov. Zenit has once again shown that it can add on a certain segment of the meeting and provide itself with a comfortable score.
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Rostov should be praised for their courage, but Karpin does not have close resources like Semak. Therefore, his team quickly ran out of steam, while the Petersburgers could use their long bench. Due to the depth and quality of the composition, they stay at the very top for so long.
