Zenit — Akhmat: Struggle, Cancellations, and Three Goals

Russian Cup evening in St. Petersburg began for me with a small tactical mistake.
I picked the “wrong” goal, thinking that Zenit would push their attacks there in the first half. But football, like reportage photography, always loves surprises. In the end, I found myself capturing Akhmat’s sharp plays — and to be honest, it worked in my favor. A few powerful runs, tough clashes — and a couple of shots that reflect the essence of the battle: speed, tension, and character.

In the second half, everything fell into place.
I moved to the opposite side of the goal. The roar of the stands, wave after wave of attacks — and soon the second ball flew into the visitors’ net. A goal in the frame is almost like catching lightning: hesitate for a second, and the moment is gone forever. But this time, the timing was perfect.

The match turned out dramatic: three goals, a disallowed strike, and even a red card that the referee later overturned. From the stands — a real wall of sound; on the pitch — a tough but fair fight. For sports photography, a match like this is a gift. Plenty of movement, emotions, and unexpected twists. It’s in games like these that reportage photography shows its true power: no text can ever convey the energy living in every frame.