Zenit St. Petersburg 4–1 Neftchi Fergana
International Club Friendly | 9 July 2026, 00:00

Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg put on an attacking masterclass as they thrashed Uzbek club Neftchi Fergana 4‑1 in a pre‑season friendly. The match, played at Zenit’s training base, showcased the depth of their squad as they prepare for the upcoming domestic and European campaigns.

Clinical first half puts Zenit in control

Zenit wasted no time asserting authority. Inside the first ten minutes, forward Maksim Glushenkov latched onto a long ball and finished with composure to open the scoring. The Russian side continued to press high, and their second goal came from a set piece: central defender Nuraly Alip rose highest to head in a corner in the 23rd minute.

Neftchi pulled one back against the run of play just after the half‑hour mark. A quick counter‑attack caught Zenit’s defence off guard, and striker Shokhruz Norkhonov slotted past the goalkeeper. However, Zenit restored their two‑goal cushion before half‑time when Brazilian midfielder Wendel curled a free‑kick into the top corner.

Second‑half polish and a fourth goal

Zenit made sweeping changes at half‑time, giving minutes to fringe players and academy graduates. Despite the altered lineup, the standard dropped only slightly. The fourth goal came in the 67th minute as substitute Ivan Sergeyev controlled a cross and fired into the net from close range.

Neftchi Fergana showed glimpses of quality but were ultimately outclassed by Zenit’s superior technical ability and physical conditioning. For Zenit, the performance underlined their status as one of the most formidable sides in the pre‑season circuit. The friendly provided excellent preparation before tougher tests lie ahead.