Zenit 2 - 4 Julinho (389436524)

35064 punters turned up at Petrovsky Stadium, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Dalibor Dešpoja was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Zacharie Garnier and Tony Rohweder. Zenit had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Huguet - Ballegaard, Lau, Trust - Majak, Wohlhüter, Lescano, Cifre, Gocyła - Surrell, Applecross.

Julinho started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. Lineup: Olaru - Gaarde, Natter, Babio - van Domburg, Renner, Dernovšek, Bengtsen - Torsting, Slotø, Møller Nielsen.

It was an obvious ambition of Zenit to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. With 5 minutes played J. Gocyła almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 12 minutes into the match left Julinho's M. Slotø completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. 15 minutes in, Zenit's L. Ballegaard received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. M. Dernovšek of Julinho took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 18 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 0 - 2. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Julinho lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. The visitors' R. Torsting took advantage of a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and centre backs 21 minutes into the match. 0 - 3 for Julinho. A drive down the left side allowed M. Slotø to get in close and score another goal for Julinho after 26 minutes, taking the score to 0 - 4. Players in Zenit heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. With 30 minutes played, L. Ballegaard was very close to reducing the score for Zenit with a low drive from the left, but a defender stuck his foot out just in the nick of time, blocking the shot to a corner. It was 0 - 4 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Zenit, with 53 percent of the ball.

D. Lescano charged down the left and looked sure to score for Zenit 56 minutes into the game, but his shot went just wide. The Julinho players could smell victory in the air. D. Renner wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for J. van Ooijen after 65 minutes. P. van Domburg became the new Julinho captain. S. Møller Nielsen came close to extending the visitors' lead when he found himself completely unmarked in front of the goal after a pass through the middle. He tried to lift the ball over B. Huguet but overcooked it and hit the bar instead. The home team's supporters got excited again when J. Gocyła broke through the visitors' central defence and caught their keeper off guard, making it 1 - 4. Zenit had a brilliant opportunity to reply as Q. Surrell received a high ball from the right, striking the ball in the air. Only C. Olaru's reflexes saved him. The referee showed Julinho's T. Gaarde the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Zenit's K. Lau got the home crowd going when he finished off a left wing charge, reducing the away team's lead to 2 - 4. Zenit enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 52 percent of possession.

Zenit's top performer was clearly Q. Surrell. B. Trust on the other hand, had a terrible day. M. Slotø performed admirably for Julinho. R. Natter was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 4.