FC Ufa’s surprising away win against Spartak and CSKA’s home draw with Krasnodar provided the chance to on-form Zenit to reach second place and bring the point difference down to one point from the top. But Anzhi was standing in the way.
Intentions were made clear very early (6′) from Lucescu’s men with Shatov’s corner converted into an early 0-1, Dzuyba netting it in with a header. Same protagonists doubled Zenit’s goals after ten minutes, as Shatov served, Dzuyba delivered and an easy evening was afoot for St. Petersburg’s team.
Anzhi, having a passive role so far and out of nowhere, managed to get back in the game ten minutes later, after Berisha scored from the spot for the 1-2 to half-time.
Zenit was reaching Belenov’s posts but wasn’t careful at the final effort with Axel Witsel’s power shot out of the box being brilliantly saved from the Russian keeper. Anzhi punished the Blue-White-Sky blues with a lucky goal as Boli’s shot was deflected, and Kerzhakov unable to react couldn’t prevent the draw; 2-2 at the 65′ minute.
Belenov brought his A-game and with some world class saves kept the tie to the end, stealing the opportunity from Zenit to climb second.
