FC Zenit Women: The Blue White Sky Blues reach the Cup Final!
In my previous post the ladies’ team were on fine form and the last match I covered in the article was their 1–0 away victory over Ryazan in round 15 of the Russian Women’s Superliga.
Business resumed in round 16 for The Blue White Sky Blues, the women’s side picked up another three points, they beat Yenisey 2–0 at home.
Zenit started the game brightly with an early opportunity from Ekaterina Pantyukhina, the twenty eight year old forward took on the Yenisey defense and fired wide.
The Northern Capital side continued with their attacks and were awarded in the twenty seventh minute of the game when Ksenia Tsybutovitch headed past Yenisey keeper Angelina Tsirulnikova.
Later on, Pantyukhina once again tested keeper Angelina Tsirulnikova, Lina Yakupova sent a well-timed through ball to the forward who outpaced Yenisey’s defense and was one-on-one with Tsirulnikova. Unfortunately her effort lacked power and the keeper parried with ease.
Pantyukhina picked up the rebound and went go for goal once again, her effort this time was cleared off the line by a Yenisey defender.
The twenty eight year old forward remained resilient in the game, moments later she stepped up and took a free kick which hit the post.
Her frustration showed but soon after was awarded an assist when she took a corner from the right-hand side. Ekaterina Morozova headed in her team mate’s set piece to make it 2–0 in the dying embers of the match.
Round 17 the women’s side travelled to Moscow and faced Chertanovo, last time Zenit faced the Muscovite side away from home they won 3–1 back in late March.
Ana Dias scored twice and super sub Elizaveta Lazareva scored in the remaining minutes of the game.
The Blue White Sky Blues went ahead in the seventy sixth minute, Chertanovo player Elizaveta Semenova brought down Ekaterina Pantyukhina and referee Vera Opeykina pointed to the spot.
Pantyukhina stepped up and drilled the ball past Chertanovo keeper Diana Ponomareva. Ana Dias almost made it 2–0, the Portuguese forward received a well-timed through ball and went on a darting run into the Chertanovo box and dribbled past Diana Ponomareva, however, defender Ksenia Dzhinikashvili came steaming in and cleared to safety.
Moving onto round 18, Zenit faced Zvezda 2005 at the Zvezda Stadium in Perm and took a point back to the Northern Capital.
The Blue White Sky Blues got off to a great start, Ana Dias latched onto Lina Yakupova’s through ball and went on a marauding run into the Zvezda box and slotted past keeper Natalia Voskobovich.
Her Maradonaesque finish was voted best goal in round 18. The home side equalised in the eightieth minute of the game, Yulia Slesarchik pass back to keeper Yulia Grichenko was latched onto by Zvezda’s Anastasia Akimova who came on earlier in the second half.
It was probably the most easiest goal she has scored in her career so far, dribbling past Grinchenko and slotting in from close range.
This week in round 19 of the Russian Women’s Superliga, Zenit faced league strugglers Krasnodar at home at the Smena Stadium.
The home side comfortably beat their Southern opponents 3–1. The Blue White Sky Blues almost took the lead early in the game when Vera Simanovskaya dribbled into the Krasnodar box and found Ana Dias unmarked.
The Portuguese striker slid in her effort which hit the post and keeper Elena Stanovova fumbled the rebound.
Fortunately for the Krasnodar keeper, defender Viktoria Klochko cleared to safety. Zenit took the lead in the forty first minute, Ekaterina Pantyukhina crossed in from the right-hand side and Viktoria Klochko put the ball into her own net.
The Krasnodar defender going from hero to zero in minutes. Nine minutes into the second half Zenit doubled their lead from a sublime strike from Lina Yakupova.
The thirty year old forward came in from the right-hand side and intentionally crossed the ball into the box, however, her effort sailed into the left hand corner of the goal.
This isn’t the first time the women’s team have scored from tight angles, last season Nika Belova scored directly from a corner.
Ten minutes later Ksenia Tsybutovich tripled Zenit’s lead from heading in from a corner. The thirty four year old defender netted her second goal since joining from Ryazan. Krasnodar picked up a consolation goal in the eighty fifth minute.
After round 19 Zenit remain in second place with forty four points, won fourteen, drew two and lost three.
Lokomotiv are still top with fifty two points, won seventeen, drew one and lost one.
The Blue White Sky Blues face Rubin Kazan in round 20 on the 4th September.
The last time both teams faced each other in Kazan was back in late June. Zenit took three points back to St Petersburg, Natalia Mashina and Nika Belova scored on the day.
Cup update
In the last post I left out some of the cup matches so here’s a quick update on how the girls reached the final which takes place in early October.
The Blue White Sky Blues face league leaders Lokomotiv which I’m sure will be a mouthwatering final to watch.
In late July Zenit faced Zvezda 2005 in the quarter final, they had advanced to the stage of the cup from previously beating Khimki/UOR 6–0.
Zenit had a few chances but nothing that really tested Zvezda keeper Natalia Voskobovitch.
The game went to extra time and penalties; Gabriela Grzywińska, Elizaveta Lazareva, Ekaterina Pantyukhin and Natalia Mashina all scored from the spot.
Zenit keeper Yulia Grinchenko saved two penalties. The women’s team advanced to the semi-final beating Zvezda 4–3 on penalties. Their next test was Chertanovo.
The semi final took place on the 14th August, The Blue White Sky Blues had already beaten Chertanovo away from home couple of weeks ago in the league.
Zenit went on the attack straight away and Ana Dias put the home side in front in the second minute of the game.
Veronika Kuropatkina played a one-two with her Portuguese team mate who then fired in a vemonous shot passed Chertanovo’s keeper.
Five minutes later Zenit doubled their lead, Ana Dias headed in Ekaterina Pantyukhina’s cross, a thunderous effort that left Diana Ponomareva stunned behind the sticks.
Just before half time Dias almost bagged a hat-trick, Yulia Slesarchik crossed in and her Portuguese team mate connected with a headed effort that went wide.
About a second later she was flagged for being in an offside position. In the second half Chertanovo had a few efforts but nothing that tested keeper Yulia Grinchenko as the majority were off target.
Veronika Kuropatinka tried an audacious long range volley which if it went in would have definitely been a contender for goal of the competition. Her effort sailed over the bar. In her post match interview, Lina Yakupova mentioned that:
“We took this match really serious and started playing aggressively since the first minutes. We were determined to win.”
She also stated that they felt motivated from having the fans support and noticed the difference when they haven’t been at the Smena Stadium. In addition she praised Chertanovo and how she found the game to be very entertaining.
Cup final opponents Lokomotiv beat Ryazan 5–0 in their semi final clash. This will be a litmus test for Zenit going into their first final as well as playing their Moscow rivals a week later which will be a vital game and could have the ramifications on who wins the title in November.
Stay tuned for future updates on The Blue White Sky Blues, давай!
