Zenit Battle Past Lokomotiv 2-1 in RPL Round 8

Zenit came from behind to beat Lokomotiv 2-1 in round 8 of the Russian Premier League, overturning a half-time deficit with two second-half goals.

Alexander Rudenko had put Lokomotiv 1-0 up at the break. Zenit levelled through Andrade before Luis Enrique struck the winner, set up by a headed pass from substitute Pedro.

Lokomotiv right-back Maksim Nenakhov dismissed the scoreline.

Nenakhov was also asked why new signing Andrei Mostovoy, who left Zenit for Lokomotiv, only appeared in the 83rd minute. "If he left Zenit, there was a tactical reason for the late introduction," he said.

He added that Lokomotiv are still adjusting without Alexei Batrakov, tracking his performances at Galatasaray, and are working in two other new arrivals, Mostovoy and Nikolai Titkov, ahead of a three-week break in the calendar after the next round.

Commentator Gennady Orlov questioned Zenit's performance despite the win, singling out head coach Sergei Semak's decision to field Andrade, a central defender, at right-back rather than one of three specialist options on the club's books. Andrade was at fault for Rudenko's goal before equalising himself. Orlov said second-half substitute Georgi Karavaev looked the better option there.

Orlov had no complaints about Luis Enrique. "There are no questions about him at all. He makes things happen," he said, adding that Zenit should build more of their play through him. He was less impressed by Marcos Karpukas and Jhonatan dos Santos Rosa, known as John John, criticising both for slow, one-paced football and repeated losses of possession. John John, a midfielder who joined Zenit in February, has scored six times this season. Orlov said Pedro, who replaced Karpukas, changed the picture with his pace and the assist for Luis Enrique's goal.

The result leaves Lokomotiv, who had been chasing the medal positions, still searching for the consistency Nenakhov described.