Moscow’s Dynamo achieved a remarkable victory over Zenit (3:1) in the first match of the quarterfinals of the Russian Premier League in the FONBET Russian Cup. For Valery Karpin, this is his first victory in St. Petersburg in six years and the first defeat for Zenit on their home turf in the last 11 months.
Playoffs are not a reason for the main lineups. The previous encounter between these teams at the same stadium took place just ten days ago. Zenit secured a hard-fought victory in the championship match (2:1), and Valery Karpin once again left St. Petersburg with nothing. Karpin’s record against Zenit has been consistently negative over the years: in the last 11 away games against Zenit, his teams suffered seven defeats and drew four times. This time, Dynamo also arrived at the Gazprom Arena far from being the favorite.
During the group stage of the Russian Cup, coaches accustomed fans to active squad rotation. Nothing changed with the start of the playoffs. Dynamo appeared in a quite experimental combination, explained by the desire to rest key players and the inability of some injured players to participate. It was known before the match that Danila Glebov would not be able to take the field due to injury. Dynamo’s attack featured Ngamaleu, Sergeev, and Mauhoub. In the midfield, Okishor and Bitello were in action.
Zenit set a new achievement during the group stage, becoming the first club to win in regular time in all six matches. Sergey Semak did not change his approach, significantly altering the lineup compared to the last championship game. The hosts’ attacking group consisted of Sobolev, Dru Luciano, and Mostovoy, supported from deeper in midfield by Mikhailov, Gorshkov, and Gerson. Before the game, the home team’s head coach emphasized again which of the two tournaments was more prioritized for his team at this stage of the season.
As the game showed, the reserves did not take advantage of this opportunity. A subdued first half and excitement in the second. The first half clearly did not go according to Zenit’s script. From the first minutes, Dynamo took the initiative and started to bombard Latyshonka’s goal from long distances. Bitello, who had shone in a recent game against Zenit, was the most active in this regard. The hosts clearly lacked understanding, affecting the ball delivery to the opposition’s half. Despite having two profiled strikers (Sobolev and Luciano), the hosts failed to create real threats to Leshchuk’s goal before halftime.
For Karpin, besides the missed chances, Mauhoub’s injury surely ruined the mood in the first half. The Moroccan had to ask for a substitution, making way for Babaev on the field. At halftime, both coaches resorted to changes in the lineup. Semak removed the unnoticed Mostovoy and Mikhailov, sending Mantuan and Barrios instead. Karpin, on the other hand, took off two defenders – Osipenko and Kutitsky – replacing them with Fomin and Fernandez.
Zenit continued to experience a sleepy state at the beginning of the second half, quickly paying the price for it. Okishor’s long-range shot posed a problem for Latyshonka, who failed to secure the ball. Ex-Zenit player Sergeev was the first to react, notching the goal. The conceded goal visibly ignited Zenit, and the team fully woke up after a triple substitution. The home team’s coach brought on the ‘golden bench’ with Glushenkov, Pedro, and Luis Enrique. Shortly after, the first dangerous moment was created at Dynamo’s goal: Glushenkov’s one-on-one attempt was neutralized by Leshchuk. However, Dynamo’s goalkeeper did not leave this match with a clean sheet. Glushenkov’s cross from the corner was converted into a goal by Pedro.
The second-half substitution also worked for Karpin. Tukavin, who came in the 73rd minute, executed a masterpiece in the center of the field, evading a defender with a skillful move and passing to Ulvi Babaev, who skillfully beat Latyshonka. In the closing stages, the hosts pressed the opponent and created several real chances, but Leshchuk was not willing to concede another goal that evening. However, Dynamo managed to score once again in added time. Tukavin, the hero of the final minutes, scored with a spectacular shot from outside the penalty area.
This was Zenit’s first home defeat since December 5, 2024. Before the cup game against Dynamo, Semak’s team had secured 16 victories at the Gazprom Arena and drawn only twice. The second leg between Dynamo and Zenit will take place in Moscow on November 27.
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