Zenit Edge 10-man Samara To Maintain Lead In Russia

Zenit edge 10-man Samara to maintain lead in Russia

Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Oct, 2018 ) :Zenit St Petersburg chalked up a 1-0 win at 10-man strugglers Samara on Monday to consolidate their Russian Premier League lead.

Argentinian midfielder Leandro Paredes scored the goal to set Zenit on their way to a hard-fought win, which left them six points clear of Krasnodar, who came back from a goal down to beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 on Sunday.

Reigning champions Lokomotiv Moscow, who beat Yenisei Krasnoyarsk 3-0, sit third, one point further back.

Zenit manager Sergei Semak said that despite the victory he was disappointed with his team's performance.

"My team were belwo par today but we managed to score to grab all three points," he said.

"It's a much-needed win for us as we have a very busy schedule. But we need to keep on working as we have no other choice." In the 16th minute Samara winger Denis Tkachuk missed a chance for an opener sending the ball inches above the crossbar with a close-range header.

Paredes put Zenit into the lead in the 22nd minute hammering the ball off the left post with a low shot from 25 yards out after a mazy run from the central circle.

After the break Samara created a set of scoring opportunities but a combination of poor finishing and good goaltending by Andrei Lunev left the 27,000 home crowd frustrated.

In the 78th minute Samara were reduced to 10 men after their Uruguayan back Agustin Rogel was sent off for a professional foul on Artem Dzyuba.

Elsewhere, Spartak Moscow and Rubin Kazan played out a 1-1 draw.

Left wing Dmitry Kombarov put Spartak in front in the 78th minute with a precise spotkick after Rubin back Vitaly Ustinov's handball in his area.

Rubin's late substitute Yegor Sorokin levelled with a header in the second minute of stoppage time.