Challenge

Gazprom Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Håkan Kjellman made the kick off which started today's match. Zafer Hürsel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 7th match minute, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aron Sjöberg to maneuver through the defense. Zafer Hürsel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Felix Montenegro in the 15th minute of play. 20 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Emanuel Emander, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. In the 23rd minute, Håkan Kjellman reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Julio Vera. The goal made the score 2-0. 29 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Felix Montenegro came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 32nd minute of play forced FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goalkeeper Zafer Hürsel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Håkan Kjellman came up free with the goalie in the 42nd minute, the FC Zenit Saint Petersburg fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Håkan Kjellman couldn't finish the play. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 45th minute, when Håkan Kjellman sent off a good shot on target. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute of the match FC Zenit Saint Petersburg got a corner. Ecuador's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Johannes Botvidsson ran over to the corner to take the kick. Johannes Botvidsson made a great header on FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's corner, it was just that Ecuador's Julio Vera managed to reach the ball for a save. 59 minutes into the game, Hami Çerağ was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. Emanuel Emander's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Julio Vera read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 65th minute of play. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Johannes Botvidsson quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Luis Andino, made in the 68th minute of the game. Felix Montes kicked well hit freekick during the 76th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Valentin Ivarsson stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Valentin Ivarsson tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Valentin Ivarsson struck a weak shot in the 81st minute. Julio Vera didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. In the 83rd minute Luis Andino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zafer Hürsel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Valentin Ivarsson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a little luck, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel got control of the ball when Luis Andino tried to sneak it across the goal line. Luis Andino made in the 94th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Cristian Sancho immediately put the ball in play. The FC Zenit Saint Petersburg support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.