Football: Zenit struggle for form in Russian League

Zenit were hoping to take Lokomotiv's sixth place in the table in a game postponed because of the St Pete team’s UEFA Cup commitments. But the honours were even after 90 minutes when the two sides finally went head to head at the Petrovsky stadium.

It finished 1-1.

The visitors created the first chance 4 minutes in - long ball to Peter Odemwingie on the right wing, he crossed in, but solid defending in the box by Radek Shirl kept the scoreboard blank.

Zenit woke up in the 11th minute, great through ball to Arshavin, who did a great job holding on to it before lobbing it to the far post, but Alejandro Domingues's header was stopped by Ivan Levenets.

Five minutes later, Loko's latest signing Dmitry Torbinsky had a great chance in the box, but a quick reaction from Vyacheslav Malofeev punched it out for a corner.

In the 31st Dominguez had another opportunity to put his club ahead, but he was too slow to take it.

Two minutes later the Argentinian striker missed his third sure-shot chance, when he was just a little late for Alexander Anyukov's cross.

Five minutes into the second hand, Zenit couldn't convert another Arshavin cross into a goal - this time it was Viktor Faizulin who sent the ball over the bar.

But three minutes later Dominguez finally made another great pass by Arshavin count, selling the dummy to Levenets before netting in the opener.

Loko ultras arranged a reaction on the stands, using the stadium seats against the local security.

And that just might have inspired Loko. Four minutes later Rodolfo found Torbinsky with a long ball, who blasted it into the net for the equaliser.

No more goals, but a little bit more partying in the away-fan sector in the remaining 30 minutes, and as a result Zenit are still only in 10th place, tied with Tom on 18 points, while Loko go above Spartak to fourth on 21.

Meanwhile Saturn and Shinnik locked horns in a game both sides were desperate to win.

Saturn hadn't won in the league since 11th May, and Shinnik were in an even worse position, just two points off the bottom of the table.

Just 3 minutes in and a poor goal kick turned into an opening goal for Saturn, however, a the sharp-angled finish by Alexey Ivanov was great.

Two minutes before halftime the home fans were on their feet again, as Marko Topic headed in a short corner for a 2-0 Saturn lead.

Six minutes into the second, Ivanov embarrassed Shinnik’s defence, setting up Topic for his second, and a safe 3-0 lead for the hosts.

In the final minute Ruslan Nahushev was brought down in the box and Andrey Karyaka put away the penalty. The final score - 4-0 Saturn, who are up to 6th in the table.

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