Zenit is two games away from winning their 5th Russian League title (3rd in 5 years) after tonight’s home win against Rostov (4-0).
Berdyev’s squad stepped fiercely into the game receiving two yellow cards in ten minutes and an injured Lombaerts early giving his place to Neto, as Zenit was trying for an early goal with Witsel’s header missing by inches the opener.
Rostov’s tough game continued (12 fouls in first half) as they were looking for a counter-attack goal that would put Zenit in a difficult position while Hulk was failing to beat Pletikosa in their tet-a-tet.
Solution came through Danny’s feet, who brilliantly through passed to Shatov with the Russian smashing it in the upper right corner, 1-0 for St. Petersburg. Zenit’s lead was doubled four minutes later as Hulk’s foul kick was too much for the Croatian keeper; a secure 2-0 into half-time.
Return found Ryazantsev almost scoring the goal of the night as his semi-bike kick found Pletikosa showing off his excellent reflexes but couldn’t stop Rondon’s shot six minutes later, resulting into a 3-0 win for Villas Boas team who mathematically wait to be crowned champions for 2014/15.
Table standings
1 Zenit St. Petersburg 63
2 FC Krasnodar* 54
3 CSKA Moscow 53
* has a game less
