After the mid-week elimination from the UEFA’s Champions League last 16 from Benfica, Zenit turned all attention to domestic competitions, starting from the Russian League.
CSKA Moscow’s earlier loss to surprise team -and now sitting on first place- FC Rostov, made it clear to Zenit that winning at Petrovsky against Rubin Kazan was a one way road to keep up with the top three teams.
Danny showed Zenit’s intentions with an early goal at 4’ minute, after Shatov’s shot was stopped from the Portuguese who with a close range shot gave the lead to his side.
Rubin replied within minutes with a huge double chance; old Zenit boy Tcachuk’s shot was brilliantly stopped from Lodigyn, who aslso saw his post denying the equalizer for Kazan a minute later.
Minutes before half time, Lodygin said no to Ozdoev (who out of the blue came out on 1 vs 1 after a deflection on midfield) with a collision between the two players that kept the Russian keeper to the ground for a couple of minutes.
Zenit stroke again at a key time, doubling their goals, when Hulk’s cross found Dzyuba inside Rubin’s box with the Russian giant giving St. Petersburg a comfortable 2-0 lead to half time.
Hulk shattered any thought Rubin might had of getting back in the game, as the Brazilian rode down the left side dancing through Kuban’s defenders and his shot proving too much for Ryzhikov who couldn’t stop the 3-0 from happening only two minutes into the second half.
Rubin did not give up trying and a beautifully curved Marko Devic shot found Kazan netting their first one on the 64’ minute.
Goals started flying as Danny doubled his personal goals the next minute to a 4-1 but Rubin –again- replied the next minute to a 4-2, with twenty minutes remaining.
The two keepers came up with some good saves to a final 4-2 to Zenit, who know are six points behind table leaders Rostov and CSKA Moscow.
