Russian football continues to please with bright matches. Following the Moscow derby, Lokomotiv and Zenit played a super-intriguing confrontation. And it ended with a masterpiece goal with side scissors. It would be more like that!

Solid intrigue

Artem Dzyuba against Zenit is the main sign of the next round of the RPL, with all due respect to Spartak and Dynamo, who gave a great show. For the first time, the forward had to play against the team in which he played the largest number of matches in the Russian championship and where he became a real star. Moreover, after the winter break, Lokomotiv is really good and wins one game after another. Now no one is talking about leaving the RPL, and Dzyuba scored six goals in four championship matches for Loko. If Artem continues at this pace, he will burst into the top scorers of the league.

Their tandem with head coach Mikhail Galaktionov works perfectly. The specialist found an approach to the player, giving him freedom of action. Artem responds with gratitude in the form of goals scored. True, Lokomotiv has not yet played with a Zenit-level team in the spring, and given the rumors about a conflict between Sergei Semak and Dziuba, interest in this confrontation has increased manifold. The last time Loko defeated the St. Petersburg club was already in September 2019, so there was enough intrigue.

Galaktionov put Dziuba and Kamano on the attack, Pinyaev and Glushenkov were supposed to be responsible for the creative, and Captain Barinov was to keep the center of the field. Semak put up a predictable line-up, entrusting the place to Sergeyev in the attack, who scored a double in the match with Ural. But the most important thing for Zenit is Wilmar Barrios getting into the application. The Colombian is a key player in the team, and his return to action after an injury is a big plus for the Petersburgers.

Wendel first brought, and then scored

In the first minutes, Zenit had more possession of the ball, but could not create anything significant. But the hosts were much sharper. Dziuba acted well in the penalty area, but his passage was interrupted at the last moment. In another episode, Artem stood with his back to the goal and threw the ball to Tiknizyan, who hit the defender with a touch. But the moment was a scoring one! Zenit responded with a quick attack, which was dispersed by Claudinho. The Brazilian gave to Mostovoy, but he seemed to drag out with a shot, and Loko goalkeeper Lantratov took the ball without any problems.

Muscovites looked more interesting in the first half of the half. They combined well, although it happened that they simplified the game and threw at Dziuba. However, how can you blame them for this, if at least half of these throws led to sharpness at the Zenith goal.

The real heat in the match began in the 25th minute. Karpukas gave to Dziuba, who beautifully made a pass with his heel to Glushenkov, who was a little lacking to get into the corner of Mikhail Kerzhakov’s goal. And a minute later Loko scored. Zenit tried to get out of the defense through a short pass, but pretty freaked out. Glushenkov covered Vendel right on the border of the penalty area and easily dealt with Kerzhakov – 1:0.

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And then the players Semak perked up for real. The Petersburgers took the initiative tightly and simply pressed Lokomotiv to the gate. Perhaps the Muscovites deliberately gave the ball to the opponent, but the pressure of Zenit grew, and in the 40th minute the guests still equalized the score. Malcolm gave to Wendel, who threw the ball into the penalty area and shot in the opposite direction to Lantratov – 1:1. An absolutely well-deserved goal and a well-deserved outcome of the first half.

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Everything was decided by a masterpiece from Cassierra

During the break, Galaktionov changed Nenakhov to Smolnikov. Here, too, everything is logical: Maxim got a yellow card, and, knowing the player’s love for sending off, Loko’s coach put the defender out of harm’s way. The second half was a continuation of the ending of the first, but with the difference that the Muscovites not only sat silently on the defensive, but managed to respond with promising attacks. Pinyaev especially ignited, with whom the Petersburgers coped at best every other time.

Semak, meanwhile, released Cassierra on the field instead of Sergeev. Ivan did not succeed at all in this match. But Mateo immediately became a member of a super-dangerous moment. The Colombian striker fired a shot into the penalty area, and after a commotion, Mostovoy hit the post, and Wendel, who had time to finish off, shot wide with his head. The game went very fun. Galaktionov replaced Kamano and Glushenkov with Zhemaletdinov and Miranchuk. Both Loko and Zenit had chances to score the second goal. And the killer moments. The Muscovites were torn apart by Pinyaev, the Petersburgers by Wendel.

In such a fast game, Dzyuba got lost. Artem was left virtually without a ball, but Galaktionov did not dare to change his leader. The game could swing in any direction, but Zenit was more assertive and turned it into a goal. Douglas Santos shot on goal, the ball hit the Loko defender and soared up, and Cassierra sent it into the goal with side scissors. Pogostnov tried with all his might to knock the ball out of the goal, but failed – 1:2.

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Lokomotiv was desperately trying to win back, but Semak’s players competently played the ending, won a major victory and became one step closer to the next championship. Muscovites, despite the defeat, were very good. It looks like Galaktionov is ready to return Loko to where everyone is used to seeing him.