The return of the Russian League after a three-month break found Ural visiting Petrovsky stadium to face table leaders Zenit for the 18th day of the Sogaz Championship.
After ten minutes of play, Shatov found Rondon but the Venezuelan couldn’t deliver at the first good chance for Villas Boas’ team, who left Hulk at the bench for the first half.
Oleg Shatov and Danny were the main source of danger along with Salomon Rondon and with possession reaching 69% for the Blue-White-Sky blues, it was only a matter of minutes for the first goal. And the “panther” couldn’t miss again as Smolnikov’s cross beautifully found the striker, who converted with a header into a 1-0 to Zenit, seconds before the half time whistle.
Yuri Lodygin had a quiet evening watching his teammate Rondon turning the game into his personal one-man show. A screamer to the far post off a bouncing ball at the 70′ minute and another one seven minutes later, signed the final 3-0 with the Venezuelan’s hat-trick giving Zenit the first three points of the new season!
