Zenit-2 defeats Metallurg in the final seconds of overtime
The St. Petersburg team's farm club secured a hard-fought victory at the end of their matchup against Magnitogorsk in the 22nd round of the Fonbet Super League regular season. With this win, Oliver Popović's squad breaks their losing streak and holds on to the 3rd-5th place in the standings. Here's a detailed breakdown of the game.
Starting five for Zenit-2: Ilya Krivyh, Daniil Aksenov, Ilyas Abdul, Mikhail Dulkay and Ivan Prokopenko.
Right in the first minute blue-whites' guard Daniil Aksenov opened the scoring with a precise three-pointer. The home team responded with a successful drive by center Denis Malyshev. The early phase of the game was slow-paced, marked by frequent stoppages and fouls. There was no clear leader on the court, as both teams took turns taking the lead. Towards the end of the first quarter, Zenit-2 guard Artem Khodorich caught fire. He confidently sank three free throws, executed a powerful drive, and nailed a long-range shot, giving St. Petersburg a slight edge at the break — 21:24.
The second quarter started with strong drives from Remizov and Lutyich, earning Metallurg four points. Meanwhile, the blue-whites struggled on offense until an impressive alley-oop from the Khodorich-Dulkay duo shifted the momentum. Gradually, the visitors intensified their defense, cooling off the hosts' offensive surge and leveling the game. They then built a comfortable 4-6 point lead, which Oliver Popović's squad maintained until the quarter's end. However, a quick counter by the Ural team, capped off with a thunderous dunk by Maxim Karvanen at the buzzer, cut the deficit before halftime — 40:42 in favor of the visitors. In the first half, Zenit-2 forced their opponents into making 9 turnovers while committing only 4 themselves (compared to 1 by the home team). However, Metallurg was slightly more accurate from mid-range and beyond the arc.
After the break, both teams continued playing a tough, physical game with numerous one-on-one battles. For Metallurg, forward Maxim Lutyich stepped up, scoring 7 points in just three minutes. It seemed both sides were pacing themselves, leaving decisive moments for the final quarter. However, midway through the third period, the Ural team went on a run, taking a 5-point lead. Zenit-2 refused to back down — three-pointers from Akhmedov and Evstafiev restored parity. In the final seconds of the quarter, Pavel Koltsov hit a mid-range jumper, setting the score at 59:57 heading into the last period.
The final quarter began with a powerful push from Metallurg. A highlight-reel dunk by Remizov and precise shots from Koltsov (3+2) extended their lead to 8 points. St. Petersburg immediately called a timeout, which proved effective in keeping their composure. Four consecutive three-pointers from Dulkay, Evstafiev, Aksenov and Khodorich turned the game around, putting the visitors ahead by three. The ending promised to be intense. Metallurg’s coaching staff responded with their own timeout, reigniting their team's offensive rhythm. Stanislav Sarafankin took charge, scoring two aggressive layups and a crucial three-pointer to restore a 5-point lead. But the visitors didn’t give up — a putback by Prokopenko and a clutch three-pointer by Aksenov tied the game. In the final minute, the scoreboard read 80:80 — overtime awaited.
Extra time began with a free throw from Ivan Prokopenko and two deep threes from Daniil Aksenov, giving Zenit-2 the upper hand. However, Metallurg managed to equalize just before the visitors’ final possession. With 21 seconds left, Oliver Popović called a decisive timeout to set up the last play. It worked — Aksenov drained another three-pointer, sealing the win for the visitors. The Ural team had no time to respond. Final score — 87:90 in favor of Zenit-2.
Top scorers for blue-whites: Daniil Aksenov (21 points + 5 assists + 4 rebounds + 2 steals), Artem Khodorich (16 points + 3 assists + 2 rebounds + 2 steals), Mikhail Dulkay (13 points + 3 rebounds + 1 assist + 1 steal + 1 block), Ilya Krivyh (13 points + 5 rebounds + 1 assist + 1 steal).
In the next round of the regular season, St. Petersburg will host Tambov. The game is set for February 12 at the Basketball Academy (Severnaya Road, 12) in St. Petersburg. Tip-off is at 18:00 local time. Admission is free for all fans. The match will be streamed on the Russian Basketball Federation's website.
