In the fifth round match of the Russian Cup group stage against Akron Tolyatti, Zenit St. Petersburg football player Wendel was hit by a drone.
Fearing that the unmanned device might have an explosive filling, Zenit defender Dmitry Chistyakov began to move his club mates away from the suspicious object, just in case.
It was later revealed that it was just a remote-controlled helicopter launched by teenagers. The 16-year-olds were detained, interrogated and released after the match. Hooligans face administrative punishment.
The meeting ended with a score of 5:1. Already in the 6th minute, Russian Zenit midfielder Alexander Erokhin opened the scoring. Brazilian forward Arthur also scored a double in the first half; He scored in the 13th and 43rd minutes. After the break, Alexander Sobolev scored his first goal for Zenit in the 61st minute, and midfielder Andrei Mostovoy converted a penalty in the 87th minute. Akron scored the only goal during stoppage time: 90+2. Vladimir Moskvichev scored in the minute.
Zenit, which was in the minority for eight minutes, left the field after re-injuring striker Maxim Glushenkov, who was injured in the 64th minute, in the 73rd minute; Akron defender Vyacheslav Bardybakhin received a red card in the 81st minute.
After five rounds, Zenit took first place in the Russian Cup Group D with 13 points. Akron is in second place with eight points.
Previously Spartak sulky Victory against Dynamo in the Russian Cup match.