Football by the Corner Flag: Zenit vs Sion

I was at the friendly match between Zenit and Sion, this time with a new perspective — right by the corner flag. Honestly, I expected a calm preseason game, but the St. Petersburg crowd turned it into something that felt like a Champions League final.

The first half brought three goals into the Swiss net, all happening close to my spot. The second half added two more, again from penalties on “my” side of the field. The only thing missing was the wild goal celebrations — you could tell it wasn’t a high-stakes tournament. Still, the pace, the duels, and the action near the corner gave me plenty of material for a strong reportage series.

For me, it was the first international match I’ve covered. Before this, I worked on the student league in St. Petersburg and regular Russian Premier League games. But here I felt a different intensity: the speed of play, the toughness of the battles, the way the fans reacted. That’s exactly why I love sports photography — not only for the goals but for the tension in every detail.