Match Report
Chelyabinsk, 4th with 41 points, sat 17 points above Zenit Izhevsk (2nd, 24). The last five rounds placed Chelyabinsk no better than 23rd for form, against 4th in the standings. In league terms the two rates read 4.8/3.2 for Zenit Izhevsk and 7.6/6 for Chelyabinsk (scored/conceded per game); the competition average is 2.25.
A win had eluded Zenit Izhevsk for 8 matches. The last-five ledger: Zenit Izhevsk 2/15, Chelyabinsk 9/15.
6 previous meetings sit in the GioScore records — Zenit Izhevsk 3, draws 2, Chelyabinsk 1, at 2.67 goals per meeting. These meetings skew tight — only 33% saw more than two goals.
The venue was Stadion Central'nyj Zenit in Izhevsk, with room for 19,100 spectators. On the scoreboard, Chelyabinsk led 1-0 at the break; 3 second-half goals set the final 1-3.