"Zenit" returns to the throne: four penalties decided the fate of the RPL leader

“Zenit” returned the lead in the RPL after the victory over Makhachkala “Dynamo”.

The final match of the 12th round of the Russian Premier League between Zenit St. Petersburg and Dynamo Makhachkala ended with a victory for the field owners with a score of 2: 0. This Victoria allowed the team from St. Petersburg to lead the standings of the national championship.

The meeting, held under the judging of the Moscow arbitrator Anton Frolov, was remembered by a large number of appointed eleven-meter strikes. A total of four penalties were recorded in the game. The guests got the first opportunity to distinguish themselves: in the 16th minute, the Makhachkala striker Miro could not beat the goalkeeper, breaking past the goal. This failure was a decisive factor that influenced the final result.

In the second half, the initiative completely passed to Zenit. In the 63rd minute, the score was opened by Brazilian striker Felipe Augusto, confidently realized a penalty. It is noteworthy that the right to strike he gave the staff member Gustavo Mantoine. The midfielder of St. Petersburg later noted that it was a friendly gesture aimed at increasing the partner’s confidence in his abilities. Mantoine also stressed that the large number of penalties appointed was a natural consequence of the active pressure of Zenit and the creation of numerous scoring moments at the opponent’s goal.

In the 77th minute, the advantage of the hosts was doubled by Maxim Glushenkov, who also scored from the eleven-meter mark. This goal was the tenth for the winger this season, which allowed him to maintain the sole leadership in the league scorer race. For Felipe Augusto, this ball was the second in the championship. In compensated time (90+8), Zenit could bring the score to crushing, but defender Kevin Andrade could not beat the goalkeeper of the guests Nikita Karabashev, who reflected the third penalty in his goal.

General Director of the Makhachkala club Shamil Gazizov after the match expressed disagreement with some decisions of the referee team. He noted that questions raise the first penalty against his team and the third, calling some episodes controversial and lightweight. However, Gazizov acknowledged the high level of the opponent, who is the current champion of the country, and stated that the chosen tactics did not bring the desired result.

The head coach of “Dynamo” Vadim Evseev appealed to his wards with support. He thanked the players for the game plan and the struggle. Evseev emphasized that the team played honestly and sought to impose its game on the opponent, which was partially successful. The mentor urged not to sprinkle ash on his head because of the mistakes made, stressing that they are an integral part of the football process and life in general.

Thanks to this victory, Zenit scored the fifth success in a row and scored 27 points, beating Dynamo Moscow and CSKA, which are two points behind. Makhachkala team, which has no victories in the last five rounds, with 13 points occupies the tenth line in the table.

In the next 13th round, Dynamo Makhachkala will host Rostov on November 1, and Zenit a day later, on November 2, will play away against the Samara Wings of the Soviets.