See you in the spring Europa League!
14.12.2018, Redakce
Slavia beat Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 in the last game of UEFA Europa League Group C and qualify for the next stage of the competition. The red-whites will compete in Europe after the winter break for the first time since 2008!
Two changes were made in the defence line in compare to Mladá Boleslav league game. Ngadeu replaced Deli as centre-back and Jaroslav zelený started for the first time in Europa League instead of Jan Bořil who received second yellow card in Bordeaux. Hušbauer replaced Traoré in the midfield, Olayinka and Škoda remained in starting eleven after solid performance against Boleslav.
Just 2 minutes into the game the red-whites got into their first chance, but goalkeeper Kerzhakov denied Ngadeu with his header after Hušbauer’s cross. Important save by Zenit goalkeeper on the very beginning.
Zenit recorded their first shot on 22nd minute when Marchisio tried his luck from behind the box, but sent his low shot just next to the left post. Shortly after Souček sent perfect cross to find Olayinka inside of the box but the Nigerian striker decided to prepare the ball on his right foot and one of Zenit defenders stopped him with a clear tackle.
Slavia took lead at minute 32. Peter Olayinka passed two Zenit players, sent the ball to Hušbauer and Jaromír Zmrhal inside of the box fired the ball into a half-open net.
Not so long after that Slavia doubled their lead. Coufal gained the ball on Zenit half and passed the ball to Miroslav Stoch. Slovak midfielder proceeded close to the box and sent a wonderful curled shot close to the far post to make it 2-0.
Zenit have changed two players on half-time, but Slavia continued to set the pace. Just on 54th minute Smolnikov got the ball inside of the box, but his attempt was blocked by Zelený as well as the rebound which was stopped by Kúdela. On 63rd minute Miroslav Stoch was close to his second of the night, but his left-foot shot from behind the box only hit woodwork behind Kerzhakov.
The score thus remained 2-0 and Slavia qualified into the next stage of Europa League from second spot in Group C, one point behind Zenit and 3 points ahead of Bordeaux. The red-whites will continue in the spring stage of European competition for the first time since 2008!
Just 2 minutes into the game the red-whites got into their first chance, but goalkeeper Kerzhakov denied Ngadeu with his header after Hušbauer’s cross. Important save by Zenit goalkeeper on the very beginning.
Zenit recorded their first shot on 22nd minute when Marchisio tried his luck from behind the box, but sent his low shot just next to the left post. Shortly after Souček sent perfect cross to find Olayinka inside of the box but the Nigerian striker decided to prepare the ball on his right foot and one of Zenit defenders stopped him with a clear tackle.
Slavia took lead at minute 32. Peter Olayinka passed two Zenit players, sent the ball to Hušbauer and Jaromír Zmrhal inside of the box fired the ball into a half-open net.
Not so long after that Slavia doubled their lead. Coufal gained the ball on Zenit half and passed the ball to Miroslav Stoch. Slovak midfielder proceeded close to the box and sent a wonderful curled shot close to the far post to make it 2-0.
Zenit have changed two players on half-time, but Slavia continued to set the pace. Just on 54th minute Smolnikov got the ball inside of the box, but his attempt was blocked by Zelený as well as the rebound which was stopped by Kúdela. On 63rd minute Miroslav Stoch was close to his second of the night, but his left-foot shot from behind the box only hit woodwork behind Kerzhakov.
The score thus remained 2-0 and Slavia qualified into the next stage of Europa League from second spot in Group C, one point behind Zenit and 3 points ahead of Bordeaux. The red-whites will continue in the spring stage of European competition for the first time since 2008!
2:0
Lineups
SK Slavia Praha
Kolář – Coufal, Kúdela, Ngadeu, Zelený (90. Baluta) – Hušbauer, Souček – Stoch (90. Frydrych), Olayinka, Zmrhal – Škoda (C) (85. Traoré)
FK Zenit Petrohrad
Keržakov (C) – Mammana, Neto, Mevlja, Nabiullin (46. Mak) – Smolnikov, Marchisio, Kranevitter, Hernani – Zabolotnyj (46. Driussi), Šatov (74. Kuzjajev)
MATCH DETAILS
Goals
32. Zmrhal, 41. StochAttendance
17748Yellow cards
Škoda, Stoch - Nabiullin, HernaniReferees
Dallas – Connor, Potter
