Zenit vs Krasnodar 1–1 | RPL Round 24 Match Photography at Gazprom Arena — Anton Hauff, Saint Petersburg. Sports Photographer in Saint Petersburg

April 17, 2026

First versus second at Gazprom Arena, one point between them, and a script nobody saw coming — Wendel’s opener, Olasa’s equaliser, and a late red card. Here’s how the evening looked from the pitchside.

One point separated the top two going into Round 24. Krasnodar in front, Zenit chasing, and a home win would have flipped the table. I got to Gazprom Arena early — nights like this reward patience. Warm-ups, the walk out of the tunnel, the first glances up at the stands: that’s where the story starts, not at kick-off.

Zenit set the tone. On 27 minutes Wendel found his moment and the stadium exhaled all at once — you feel that through the camera, in your shoulders rather than your ears. I’d drifted closer to the corner flag, where the tightest emotion usually gathers when the home side scores. Close-up, wide frame, a quick turn to the bench — then back to work. Krasnodar spent the rest of the half studying the game, holding something back.

The turn came after the break. Sixty-ninth minute, Lucas Olasa, and it was level. Shooting an away goal at a home stadium is its own problem — the players celebrate, the stands go quiet, and the composition loses half its weight. Then, with ten minutes of regulation left, came the twist nobody planned for. Pedro, just on from the bench, picked up a straight red. Ten men, raw nerves, Krasnodar pressing in waves — and the final whistle at 1–1.

The title race looks almost identical this morning. Krasnodar keep their slim lead, Zenit are still within touching distance, and six rounds remain to settle it. For match photography, these are the evenings you want: the story refuses to sit still, and you work on instinct. A sports photographer in Saint Petersburg won’t be short of material this spring.

See the full gallery with the best moments from Zenit vs Krasnodar, RPL Round 24, here: Zenit vs Krasnodar.