Zenit and Lokomotiv Battle to a Draw in RPL's 13th Round
In a crucial match of the Russian Premier League (RPL), Zenit and Lokomotiv faced off in the 13th round, resulting in a hard-fought draw. Both teams, sitting in the top three of the league, were eager to secure points to maintain their positions and reduce the gap with league leaders Krasnodar. The stakes were particularly high for Lokomotiv, who came off a surprising loss to Khimki in the previous round, making a draw a more favorable outcome for them.
The match took place at Zenit's home ground, Gazprom Arena, where the home team enjoyed the support of a packed stadium. Despite this advantage, Lokomotiv demonstrated their resilience throughout the season, having previously achieved victories against top teams like CSKA and Spartak. Zenit's coach, Sergei Semak, acknowledged the challenge posed by Lokomotiv, highlighting their status as contenders for the championship.
The game started with Lokomotiv applying high pressure, attempting to dominate the field. However, Zenit quickly adapted, exploiting gaps in Lokomotiv's defense, particularly through Andrei Mostovoi on the left flank. Mostovoi came close to scoring early on, but his effort was denied by Lokomotiv's goalkeeper Ilya Lantratov. As the first half progressed, Zenit began to take control, although Lokomotiv created some chances through set pieces.
The second half saw Lokomotiv return with renewed vigor, but it was Zenit who struck first. A defensive error by Lokomotiv allowed Wendel to set up Claudino, who scored in the 62nd minute, marking his third goal in two matches. In response, Zenit’s coach Galaktionov made impactful substitutions, bringing on Timur Suleimanov and Sergey Pinyaev, the latter of whom assisted Alexey Batrakov in scoring the equalizer shortly after.
The match ended with both teams sharing the points, which ultimately benefited their rivals Krasnodar and Dynamo. Despite the draw, Zenit struggled to overcome Lokomotiv for the third consecutive match, leaving both teams to reflect on missed opportunities.
