Zenit's reserve team snatches victory in the end of the match with Dynamo
Zenit-2 played their first match of 2025 in the Fonbet Super League, hosting Dynamo from Grozny on their home court. At times, the game resembled a rollercoaster ride with its ups and downs. This victory became the 13th of the season for the blue-whites team, allowing them to maintain their position in the top 1-2 spots in the standings. Here's a detailed look at the match.
The starting five for Zenit-2 consisted of captain Elkhan Akhmedov, Daniil Aksenov, Mikhail Dulkay, Pavel Zemskiy and Ilya Krivyh.
The game began with back-to-back baskets from Artem Kochergin and Pavel Zemskiy, each scoring two points. The first quarter proceeded at an even pace, with both teams neck-and-neck. Neither side managed to pull ahead by more than three points. During these ten minutes, Zemskiy stood out for Zenit-2, creating numerous opportunities and scoring 13 points in the opening period. For Dynamo, the forwards Kirill Esipov, who hit two consecutive three-pointers, and Danil Ishchenko, whose offensive rebound put Grozny ahead at the end of the first quarter, were the key players — 25:26.
In the second quarter, the guests quickly seized control of the game, going on an 8:0 run to gain a comfortable lead. Oliver Popovic's team found themselves chasing the game, a role they wouldn't escape until the final ten minutes. During this time, Daniil Aksenov tried to push his team forward with his signature three-point shots. However, despite hitting one three-pointer and one hook shot, his accuracy from beyond the arc was inconsistent. By halftime, Dynamo remained in the lead — 37:40.
The third quarter brought a lot of problems for Zenit-2. The Chechen team immediately established a floating lead of 7-10 points, which reinforced their position as the dominant team in the game. As the period drew to a close, Dynamo made consecutive three-pointers, a dunk in transition, and a hook shot, potentially setting themselves up for a 15-point advantage at the break. However, Ivan Prokopenko hit a shot from midcourt just before the buzzer, and the score heading into the final quarter was 49:62.
In the final ten minutes, Zenit-2 gave everything to claim the long-desired victory, winning the quarter 30:9. Akhmedov, Prokopenko and Khodorich led the team forward, repeatedly sending the ball into the opponent's basket. After surpassing the midway point, Zenit-2 took the lead and never relinquished it. Pavel Zemskiy, in turn, had his best game of the season, posting a double-double with 34 points and 12 rebounds. The final score was 79:71.
In the 17th round of the Fonbet Super League, Oliver Popovic's team will face Novosibirsk away. The game will take place on January 15 at the "Sever" sports complex. The match will start at 15:30 St. Petersburg time. The game will be streamed on the website of the Russian Basketball Federation.
