Argentine Driussi stars on home Zenit ‘debut’
Lokomotiv top CSKA
MOSCOW, July 23, (AFP): Argentine striker Sebastian Driussi scored twice including a stoppage-time winner on his home debut as Zenit St Petersburg rallied to beat Rubin Kazan 2-1 in the Russian Premier League on Saturday.
Zenit fell behind to a Rifat Zhemaletdinov goal on the stroke of halftime, but Driussi struck twice in his first start for Roberto Mancini’s side as the Italian made it two wins from two in Russia.
Zenit are level on six points alongside Lokomotiv Moscow and Krasnodar at the top of the table.
Lokomotiv defeated city rivals CSKA Moscow 3-1 on Friday, while Krasnodar beat top-flight newcomers Tosno 2-0 on Saturday.
Zenit dominated the first half at the Krestovsky Stadium, which hosted the Confederations Cup final won by Germany, but a defensive blunder allowed Zhemaletdinov to fire Rubin ahead.
The hosts responded on 52 minutes when Alexander Kokorin knocked down a left-wing cross for the 21-yearold Driussi, a summer signing from River Plate, to sweep home the equaliser.
Driussi struck again in the first minute of injury time as he turned in a cross from skipper Domenico Criscito to seal a dramatic Zenit victory.
“We played sluggish football in the first half and it was absolutely hopeless against a team as well-organised as Rubin,” Mancini said.
“During the break I asked my players to speed things up and it paid off as we scored twice to win the game. In general, we played well today and I think it was a deserved win.”
Zenit, who finished third last season, travel to Israel next Thursday to face Tel Aviv-based Bnei Yehuda in the first leg of their Europa League third round qualifying tie.
Krasnodar, who host Danish side Lyngby in midweek, maintained their perfect start to the domestic campaign as second-half goals from Uruguayan midfielder Mauricio Pereyra and Brazilian winger Joaozinho saw off Tosno.