Lyon (France), November 5 – R-Sport, Artem Lisowski. St. Petersburg football club “Zenith” issued early access to the 1/8 finals of the Champions League, beating in the match of the 4th round of the group stage of the French “Lion”.
The meeting, which was held on Wednesday in France at the stadium, “Gerland”, ended with the score 2: 0 in favor of “blue-white-blue.” Hero of the match was the forward of “Zenith” Artem Dzyuba and Hulk. Dziuba scored twice by checking scored goals in the 25th and 57th minutes of the game. Hulk chalked up two assists.
“Zenith” after four rounds scored 12 points and led the standings of Group H. “Lion” with one point in the asset remains in last place and now, most likely, will compete only for a place in the Europa League.
“This victory is important not only for us but for the whole of Russia in terms of the ratio of UEFA – said after the game happy head coach of the” Zenith “Andre Villas-Boas. – We have acted on the counterattack, and this tactic is good work out. We created scoring chances and managed to score goals. “Lion” caused 23 attack on our goal, and we were just more efficient “.
” Lion “promised madness
On the eve of the match, it is important first of all for the French club in terms of the tournament layouts and a chance of reaching the playoffs in the city about the upcoming game little resembled. It seemed that their lives Lyon, separate from the football events of life. Measured, calm, without a trace of vanity. Perhaps the only thing that reminds us of the game – a modest-sized poster with the poster in front of the stadium “Gerland”. That’s all. Even the country’s leading sports newspaper L’Equipe has been preoccupied with the first team of France – “Paris Saint-Germain”, rather than the prospects of the “Lion” in the Champions League.
It was only on game day print media finally remembered, on the banks of the Rhone that granted the favorite of the group H reigning champion Russia and that “the weavers” are involved in the main club tournament of the Old World. “Lion” at the bottom. Last chance “- headline announced the appointment is the same L’Equipe. Indeed, the French club largely sensationally gave the worst start in their history in the Champions League group stage by typing in three matches just one point and is located in last place in the standings . To keep the chances of reaching the playoffs, “Lyon” to be sure to beat the “Zenith”.
“We are in a situation or a pan, or swim. We have from the very beginning of the game to play aggressively, to dominate, to show “organized madness.” It should be a spectacle, “- he said before the game the head coach,” Lyon “Hubert Fournier.
The Hulk in order, Lodygin the gate
” Zenith “arrived in France, while in the more than comfortable position: 9 points after three matches, the first place in the group. To ensure your participation in the playoffs, St Petersburg was enough and a draw. Despite the favorable starting position, stay “Zenith” in France was accompanied by an aura of mystery. ” The blue-white-blue “, perhaps for the first time resorted to cunning move – did not publish a list of players who went to the match with the” Lion “.
Just one day before the game Villas-Boas revealed the secret, saying that in a match because of injury will not be able to attend Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay, who eventually to the starting lineup was replaced by Luís Neto. But, as he had promised the Portuguese, the field appeared recovered from damage Brazilian striker Hulk. Another urgent topic of the starting lineup concerned goalie position . Meanwhile, Mikhail Kerzhakov and Yuri Lodygin Villas-Boas chose the latter and, as shown by the game, not lost.
“Weavers” enough fuse for 15 minutes
The first thing It left a strong impression on the “Zherlane” – Strong support of the French fans, which so desperately hoped before the match, “Lyon”. Fans began to catch up to the stadium only half an hour before the game, but in the end almost completely filled the bleachers: its 30 thousand “Gerland” gathered. With whistle Felix Brych French fans staged a colorful performance on the whole of the North Stand folding cartons inscription “One love”. And drove the team forward with the fans in the grandstand opposite the countless songs, not stopped for a minute.
In France, support the “Zenith” from St. Petersburg arrived around 600 fans, but they were almost invisible. For the first time they made themselves felt before the game, when the announcer in the stadium announced that the team will play in the mourning band on the occasion of the tragic crash of an airliner with Russian tourists in Egypt – St. Petersburg met this information with applause. In the second – even during the game when in the 25th minute after a solo passage Dziuba Hulk calmly closed his transfer to quiet down and made frantic “Gerland”. Fan sector “Zenith” said a goal light fireworks.
The goal of the gate, “Lyon” French perceived as snow in the middle of summer, because the “weavers” from the beginning of the match showed what it means to “organized insanity”: a constant pressure at the gates of “Zenith”, coupled with the frantic crowd support. The hosts tried to push the defense of the “blue-white-blue” mostly on the left, where he played Alexander Anyukov. But not the most reliable protection of “Zenith”, this time failures nearly did not allow, and by the 15th minute Petersburgers leveled the game.
Moreover, the “Zenith”, acting on the counter, could several times to open an account before goals Dziuba. But first, Danny could not lumbago after Domenico Criscito how to adjust to the ball and sent it into the net, and then, after a Hulk – to beat the goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. “Lion” after a missed goal was able to recover only in the second half of the first inning. But the most dangerous episode was hit Samuel Yumtiti that the adopted cross the gate.
second goal Dziuba Remove Gonalons
In the second half irrepressible bunch Hulk Dzyuba turned hope “Lyon” on the favorable outcome of a meeting in a fantasy. After the break the “blue-white-blue” more closed, the game itself has become more calm character, but in the 57th minute Zenit still found a loophole in the protection of the “Lion”. The Incredible Hulk again slipped through the defense of the French club and rolled a pass to Dziuba, who, being in the penalty area, like an umbrella stabbed the ball past Lopes – 2: 0. The game, in fact, been made. This time, fans of “Zenith” noted goal scored fire-show.
“Assists records? I do not pay attention to it. Thank Hulk for transmission and teammates that I have them supply. I find myself in the right place at the right time. I enjoy every moment, madly happy how things are going. After much deliberation, sleepless nights all the more convinced I made the right choice (going to the “Zenith”). Everything went cool “- curled Dziuba told reporters after the match.
“Lion” tried to save the match. But most attempts at French club to do something with the defense, “Zenith”, more like a chaotic and useless actions. And finally in the match all became clear when 72 minutes winger “Lyon” Maxime Gonalons received a second yellow card and left the field. I understand this and Fournier, who though made three substitutions in a match at some point sat helplessly on the bench and stared blankly at what is happening. Not helped “the weavers” to brighten up the bitterness of defeat or removal Anyukova for two yellow cards, nor the goal by a defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa of offside in injury to the match time.
“We are disappointed with the result – excuses for failure after the game to reporters Fournier. – In the first half we showed that we want to win, but the “Zenith” excellent defense, used his moments and eventually punished us. In the second half it became harder we pretty early missed and the game went much crumpled, we were is much harder. In the “Zenith” great players, they use their quality. In addition, look at the Hulk – today he made two scoring pass. For any coach’s nice to be a part of such a player “.
” Zenit “I want to keep winning
Having overcome the” Lion “,” Zenith “has not only set a new record winning streak in the Champions League, but also issued a ticket to the 1/8 finals. After the final whistle, the players of the St. Petersburg club, hand in hand, went to share the joy of success with their fans. Heavenly fan sector loaded pep “On, Come on,” Zenit and together embarked on a victory dance. Then on the sector flown gaming t-shirt.
“We are pleased that won a fourth win in a row and played well with the” Lion. “Opponent was not easy, we are well-acted defensively and using a counter. We have to enjoy the moment to win the Champions League next, “- said after the game, reporters midfielder” blue-white-blue “Danny.
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