St. Petersburg’s Zenit delivered a commanding performance in Doha, Qatar, clinching the Equality Cup with a decisive 4-1 victory over Brazilian club Santos in the final. The match showcased Zenit’s precision and teamwork as they closed out the tournament with an unblemished record of three wins from three games.
The opening goal arrived in the 10th minute when Vyacheslav Karavaev found the back of the net, giving Zenit a sharp early lead. Just over two decades later, in the 31st minute, Andrei Mostovoy extended the advantage, tightening the home team’s grip on the fixture and setting a confident tone for the remainder of the match.
As the first half drew to a close, Claudinho added a brutal blow to Santos’ hopes, delivering a score that put Zenit firmly in control heading into halftime. The second half maintained the same momentum, with Rodrigo Cesar scoring in the 77th minute to keep the match out of reach for the Brazilian side. In the 84th minute, Pedro capped the scoring with Zenit’s fourth, sealing the result and the trophy for the Russian side.
Zenit’s victory was reinforced by strong creative play from the squad, including two assists from Ivan Sergeev and Mateo Cassierra, who helped to orchestrate several dangerous moments and contributed to the balanced offensive display. The team entered Doha with a clear focus on asserting themselves across the three matches, and they fulfilled that plan with a well-rounded performance in each game.
Following the tournament, Zenit’s form in domestic competition remained a key storyline. The club sits in second place in the Russian Premier League (RPL) with 36 points, trailing league leaders Krasnodar by a margin of two points. In third sits Dinamo, with 32 points, signaling a tightly contested chase at both ends of the table as the season progresses.
In the 19th round of the RPL, Zenit prepared for a significant clash against Spartak in St. Petersburg, a fixture that is expected to draw considerable attention from supporters and analysts alike as the title race and European qualification spots continue to unfold.
Earlier discussions surrounding the Russian national team and Zenit featured questions about why a Zenit player had been released from national team duties. The context highlighted the various factors clubs and national squads weigh when managing player workloads and international duty commitments, and it underscored the ongoing balancing act between club obligations and international responsibilities.