Gennady Orlov shared his thoughts on Zenit’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Sochi, pointing out key flaws in the performances of Maxim Glushenkov and Alexander Sobolev, and noting the team’s growing instability.
“It was a truly surprising match. Zenit started well, with good attitude and creating chances. Glushenkov hit the post and then won a penalty. It seemed like the perfect moment to open the scoring. But why Luis Henrique decided to shoot high? That was strange. He’s a technically skilled player who could have easily placed the ball low into the corner. After that missed penalty, something broke in Zenit’s game. Maybe the pressure of the result started to weigh on them – 40,000 spectators, such excitement. No, I have no complaints about Semak’s players’ dedication. But there were too many errors in passing, too many turnovers.
“Remember how Barrios made a mistake in midfield while controlling the ball after a pass from Diveev? Sochi launched a counterattack that could have easily ended in a goal! But Mukhin missed the target from a promising position. Barrios, unfortunately, is gradually declining. In my opinion, Semak’s substitution in the second half was justified. Vega came on for the Colombian, moving to left defense, while Douglas Santos shifted into the holding role. I think the Brazilian is more useful than Barrios in build-up play, helping the team develop attacks. Yes, Wilmar still makes quality tackles, but he cannot sharpen the game with forward passes.
“Glushenkov definitely played with desire today. He looked for options, delivered a great assist to Luis Henrique, and tried to score himself. But what distinguishes a great master? The percentage of accurate passes, the percentage of successful actions. Maxim still lacks that consistency. Not all his passes reach their target, not all his dribbles succeed. It all comes down to the level of individual skill. I don’t argue that he has helped Zenit this season. But he never became the team’s leader.
“Sobolev? I’ve always had only one complaint about him – his technical level. Effort is effort, but there must also be technical quality. Although we’ve praised him many times for his dedication and important goals, right? In any case, it’s the head coach’s choice. Semak believes in him,” Orlov told Sport Express.
After 29 matches, Zenit leads the RPL table with 65 points, two points ahead of second-placed Krasnodar, though the Bulls have a game in hand.
The match at Gazprom Arena ended 2-1 for Zenit. Sochi took the lead in the 31st minute through Zakhar Fedorov, assisted by Artyom Makarchuk. Zenit equalized in the 59th minute when Luis Henrique scored from a Maxi Glushenkov pass. The winner came in the 84th minute from Alexander Erokhin. Zenit also missed a first-half penalty, with Luis Henrique’s effort saved.