18.09.2017 21:40 h

Zenit open lead with Ufa win

Sebastian Driussi
Sebastian Driussi

Roberto Mancini's Zenit St Petersburg took the outright lead in the Russian Premier League on Monday following a 3-0 win over unfancied visitors Ufa.

The goals by forwards Sebastian Driussi and Alexander Kokorin, and a precise spotkick by skipper Domenico Criscito set Zenit on their way to a confident win, which left them three points clear of second-placed Krasnodar.

Two-time former champions Lokomotiv, who suffered an unexpected 0-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Amkar Perm, sit third, one point further back.

"The match was much more difficult than the scoreline shows," Mancini said.

"Though two early goals gave us some freedom it wasn't easy to oppose Ufa attacks in the second half.

"I'm pleased with my team's position in the table but there are 20 matches ahead and everything is still possible. We need to keep ourselves focused."

Zenit started in a lively fashion pinning Ufa back and in the ninth minute Argentinian Driussi opened the score with a low shot from nine yards out.

Criscito made it 2-0 from the spot in the 22nd minute after Ufa midfielder Azamat Zaseyev handballed in his box.

After the interval Zenit eased up pressure allowing the guests to create a series of scoring opportunities but the home team's lead was never in danger.

Kokorin rounded off the scoring in the 77th minute, when he fired home from close range, his seventh goal of the season so far to maintain his lead in the league scorers' chart.

Elsewhere, Lokomotiv Moscow found themselves trailing 1-0 after Amkar midfielder Mikhail Gashchenkov hammered home a rebound after a corner when the match was just one minute old.

The railway-backed side poured in attack seeking for an equaliser but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by the visiting team's goalie Artur Nigmatullin left the home crowd frustrated.