Intro:

Italian defender Domenico Criscito scored one goal and set up another to give reigning Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Moscow on Saturday (July 28).

Script:

Zenit St Petersburg took on Dynamo Moscow on the second weekend of the Russian League season on Saturday (28 July).

Dynamo almost took a shock lead against the hosts - champions for the past two seasons - on four minutes as Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev gifted the ball to midfielder Misimovic in the area, but the Bosnian failed to capitalize.

Six minutes later Russia forward Alexander Kerzhakov - watched by new Russia national coach Fabio Capello - picked up a pass from Criscito, beat defender Leandro Fernandez and sent the ball into the top of the net to give Zenit the lead.

Kerzhakov was criticised for poor finishing at Euro 2012, but is now the Russian Premier League's top scorer with three goals.

Criscito grabbed Zenit's second on 71 minutes, latching onto a cross from Igor Denisov before striking the ball past Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin.

Malafeev deprived Dynamo of a stoppage time consolation goal with a spectacular headed save to deny Dynamo defender Gordon Schildenfeld's header.

So, 2-0 in the end to Zenit who now have two wins from two games.

But it was a second consecutive defeat for Dynamo, who lost 1-0 to 10-man underdogs Volga in their season opener.