Fakel 0-1 Zenit: Sobolev penalty seals dramatic win in Voronezh (full match highlights)

What a rollercoaster in Voronezh. Igor Diveev saw red on 85 minutes after VAR spotted him lashing out at Nikolay Giorgobiani, leaving Zenit with ten men and staring at a goalless stalemate. Then came the 93rd minute. A burst into the box from Daniil Kondakov, a desperate challenge from Ravil Netfullin, and referee Anton Frolov pointed to the spot. Alexander Sobolev, who had replaced Felipe Augusto on 65 minutes and earlier struck the crossbar, stepped up and smashed the penalty home to silence the home crowd. That's the kind of gut punch that defines seasons. The Athletic would call it a classic game-changer. Zenit had been knocking all afternoon — Kondakov forced a fine save from Frolkin, Augusto hit the post, Sobolev rattled the woodwork — but it looked like nothing would go in. Then the VAR drama unfolded. Head coach Sergey Semak praised his side's resilience after the match, admitting they found a way to grind out results even when things aren't clicking. Fakel boss Oleg Vasilenko was furious afterwards, claiming the penalty decision contradicted pre-season referee briefings, and the club announced they would appeal to the Expert Advisory Commission. Statistics tell the story: Zenit dominated possession and outshot their hosts, yet needed a last-gasp spot-kick to break the deadlock. The win lifts Semak's men to third place with 12 points, while Fakel remain rooted to the bottom with just two. Can Zenit build on this fortunate escape, or will the cracks resurface when they face tougher opposition?