Zenit footballer Erokhin talks about the penalty against Orenburg: “If they hadn’t pushed me, I would have kicked the goal”

St. Petersburg Zenit midfielder Alexander Erokhin said on Match TV that the Orenburg footballer’s kick deprived him of an obvious opportunity to shoot on goal in the home match of the 11th round of the MIR Russian Premier League (RPL).

On Saturday, Zenit defeated Orenburg with a score of 1:0. The only goal was scored in the 61st minute by Brazilian Gustavo Mantuan, who converted a penalty. A penalty kick was awarded after a violation against Erokhin, who entered the field in the second half.

— How sensitive was the shock?

– According to my feelings, if I had not been pushed, I would have hit the goal. Whether there would have been a goal or not is unknown, but at least I would have shot at the goal. Therefore, I think that being deprived of the opportunity to shoot at goal was a foul. At the moment of the jump, he pushed me a little from behind.

— What instructions did Semak give before you entered the field?

– Play in the position I came to – ten. In the first half, there were not enough openings behind the back to stretch the opponent’s defense. So that Cassierra has zones to receive the ball. Other guys had the opportunity to receive the ball, beat them, go to the center with a serve or a shot, and strain the defenders.

— Why was the game so difficult?

— The start of the match went a little wrong. Those moments on which we wanted to play did not bring the ball to these zones, to these players. In the second half we restructured a little, we had more control. Orenburg has always counterattacked well. They ran into quick attacks and tried to take advantage of their chances. Therefore, it was not easy,” Erokhin said on Match TV.

In the next round, Zenit will play away against Tolyatti Akron on October 18.

Watch live broadcasts of MIR RPL matches on the Match TV and MATCH PREMIER channels, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

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