Friendly League

Gazprom Arena
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Maxim Tsigalko in the 4th minute of play. Zafer Hürsel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Maxim Tsigalko in the 7th minute of the match. Zafer Hürsel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Allan Bivall in the 9th minute of play. In the 10th minute Alto Wing 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. In the 14th minute, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's 鲁亮斐 seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed 鲁亮斐 the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and 鲁亮斐 had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 13th minute of the game. One of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Samurai:s goal. Zafer Hürsel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Maxim Tsigalko in the 19th minute of the match. Arvid Gallin kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. Maxim Tsigalko's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Zafer Hürsel read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 27th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Maxim Tsigalko in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Zafer Hürsel saved FC Zenit Saint Petersburg from getting behind. Håkan Kjellman hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. 34 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Allan Bivall was slow to take the kick. During this time Samurai's players had a chance to rest. The corner led Samurai's Allan Bivall to fire away a dangerous shot which Zafer Hürsel despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Maxim Tsigalko in the 36th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Zafer Hürsel prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Samurai's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Allan Bivall in the 38th minute. After taking down the ball on Samurai's corner Hernán Grana fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Zafer Hürsel quite easily take care of the ball. Zafer Hürsel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Maxim Tsigalko in the 43rd minute of play. In the 46th minute Maxim Tsigalko 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Valentin Ivarsson made a kick off. In the 51st minute, Maxim Tsigalko reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Zafer Hürsel. The goal made the score 0-3. If Maxim Tsigalko had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Arvid Gallin kicked well hit freekick during the 57th minute of the match. Zafer Hürsel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Maxim Tsigalko, who was totally free with the ball in the 58th minute. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Peter Snell got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Zafer Hürsel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Maxim Tsigalko, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Samurai's attack was well implemented in the 61st minute, but when Maxim Tsigalko was about to shoot he didn't get a good hit on the ball and it hit the crossbar and flew over. Goal Kick. 68 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Wu Qi came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's 徐默钢 was substituted for Håkan Kjellman. Zafer Hürsel made an important save on a dangerous shot by Allan Bivall in the 74th minute. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's defense didn't have a chance, in the 75th minute, when Wu Qi scored to the left of an out of position Zafer Hürsel, making the score, 0-4. Esbjörn Hultstrand could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 79th minute of the match, but Zafer Hürsel made a huge save. In the 81st minute the ball was on its way in behind FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goalkeeper Zafer Hürsel, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After having played for 83 minutes, Valentin Ivarsson managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's supporters crossed their fingers, but Valentin Ivarsson was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Thanks to some nice moves Esbjörn Hultstrand could shoot a difficult shot in the 85th minute, which Zafer Hürsel however easily saved by the left post. The audience thought a goal was coming when Esbjörn Hultstrand got free with Zafer Hürsel in the 88th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Wu Qi could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 93rd minute of the match, but Zafer Hürsel made a huge save. If Esbjörn Hultstrand had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Samurai supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Samurai would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.