Zenit’s last home game for 2016 took place in a white St. Petersburg after snow came back the last couple of days in Russia with below zero temperatues and FC Ufa “blending in” with the white kits.
Anuykov (line clearance) and Lodygin (excellent saves twice) kept the clean sheet for the Blue-White-Sky blues as Ufa was the one with the best chances in the first half, in a game where Axel Witsel captained Zenit for the first time, due to the absence of Javi Garcia, Danny and Criscito.
Petrovsky almost warmed up as a foul kick was awarded in the box after a pass back from the Ufa defender to the keeper but Zhirkov’s shot went wide over Lunev’s posts. Ufa’s keeper said no to Giuliano a minute later in a tet-a-tet with no breakthrough coming from either teams into a goalless half-time draw.
FC Ufa kept testing Lodygin but the Russian keeper was in excellent form keeping Zenit in the game. Clock was ticking when five minutes before the end Axel brilliantly found Giuliano in the box and the Brazilian had no trouble to net in the first goal of the night.
Lodygin, probably the best player of the day, kept Zenit up front with another great save minutes before Kokorin secured the three points with one more match day left in Rostov next week.
