Match Report: Chertanovo Moscow Women 0-5 Zenit St Petersburg Women – Russian Women's Premier League

Zenit St Petersburg Women delivered a devastating away performance at the Chertanovo Training Centre, crushing Chertanovo Moscow 5-0 on 23 May 2026 in Russian Women's Premier League action. The visitors, league title contenders under head coach Olga Medvedeva, showed no mercy from the opening whistle, racing to a commanding lead before halftime and never looking back. The result underlined Zenit’s attacking depth and exposed Chertanovo’s defensive frailties in front of their home crowd.

First Half: Zenit’s Early Blitz

Zenit needed just nine minutes to break the deadlock. Star forward Anna Kozlova latched onto a through ball from midfielder Yulia Smirnova, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted into an empty net. The goal opened the floodgates. In the 23rd minute, Kozlova turned provider, crossing for winger Maria Petrova who headed in from close range. Chertanovo tried to respond through counter-attacks, but Zenit’s high press suffocated any build-up play. Before the interval, two more goals arrived: a powerful strike from distance by Smirnova in the 38th minute, followed by a clinical finish from substitute forward Olga Fedorova in first-half stoppage time to make it 4-0.

Second Half: Zenit Cruises to Victory

The second half was a more controlled affair as Zenit eased off the gas, but they still managed to add a fifth. In the 64th minute, a corner kick was met by centre-back Irina Volkova, who nodded home unchallenged. Chertanovo had a few half-chances – notably a header from defender Daria Morozova that sailed over – but Zenit goalkeeper Elena Sorokina was rarely tested. The final 20 minutes saw Zenit manage possession, content with the 5-0 scoreline. Chertanovo’s frustration boiled over late with a yellow card for midfielder Natalia Karpova.

Standings and Significance

The emphatic win keeps Zenit St Petersburg Women level on points with league leaders CSKA Moscow at the top of the table, with a superior goal difference now a key factor. For Chertanovo, the heavy defeat drops them to ninth place, only three points above the relegation zone. The match also highlighted Zenit’s formidable attack, which has now scored 18 goals in its last four league outings. With the title race heating up, performances like this signal that Zenit have the firepower to go all the way.