Zenit played their second and last game in an empty Petrovsky stadium (after last season’s two-match ban) against newcomers FC Ufa.
Andres Villas Boas chose to leave Salomon Rondon at the bench (11 goals in 10 apps with Zenit) along with new addition Javi Garcia and moved Axel Witsel next to Fayzoulin in front of Tymoshcuk as Danny, Kerzhakov and Hulk were the attacking triplet.
Zenit was having trouble creating chances and Ufa was closed on their own half when Kerzhakov was brought down in the box winning a penalty at the 31′ minute. Hulk converted it into a goal and Ufa reacted immediately with Semakin smashing
a rocket into Lodygin’s crossbar. Kerzhakov was stopped by Vyeramko and by his post later as teams went to half time with Zenit leading 1-0.
Second half started with Danny and Hulk trying to break Ufa’s great defense without success as Javi Garcia made his debut for the Blue-White-Sky blues at the 66′ minute. Kerzhakov and Hulk had the last chances in the game, Rondon who was brought in seven minutes before the final whistle couldn’t extent his scoring record, and Zenit got their fourth win in
four games in the Russian Premier League.
Zenit now visit Liege on Wednesday to face Standard for the UEFA Champions League play-of round, a club where Axel Witsel developed and emerged from.
