Zenit vs Dynamo Moscow: capturing a tough 1:3 night at Gazprom Arena

I walked into Gazprom Arena early, same tunnels and blue lights I’ve shot dozens of times, but this first FONBET Russian Cup 2025/26 RPL Path quarterfinal had a different edge. Zenit vs Dynamo Moscow, playoff football, new chapter. As a sports photographer in Saint Petersburg, games like this are where you build visual stories for clubs, leagues and sponsors: clean compositions, real emotions, frames that can live on websites, reports and social media long after the final whistle.

The first half tried its best to stay forgettable. A couple of half-chances at Dynamo’s goal, a dangerous free-kick near Zenit’s box — I worked the angles, but the camera was still waiting for the real turning point. After the break the tempo finally woke up. On 53 minutes Zenit concede, and it instantly echoes that league match against Dynamo where the comeback did happen. I’m right on the line for the reactions, then Zenit score their equaliser — a brief wave of noise, strong material for any match recap. But in the closing minutes Dynamo break away twice on the counter. Fast runs, stretched defence, and I’m tracking the third goal knowing the story of the night is shifting to the visitors.

What surprised me most wasn’t the 1:3, but how quickly fans started leaving after the third goal, long before the whistle. I stayed focused on the pitch and the stands: emptying rows, mixed emotions, details that make authentic sports photography valuable for organizers, federations, clubs and sponsors. If you’re searching for “sports photographer Saint Petersburg” or need reliable sports photography coverage for your tournament or brand, you need someone who keeps shooting until the last second, regardless of the score. That’s exactly the story I brought home from this match.

See the full gallery with the best moments from Zenit vs Dynamo Moscow — FONBET Russian Cup 2025/26 here: Zenit (Saint Petersburg) — Dinamo (Moscow).