07.04.2018 20:26 h

Krasnodar beat Zenit to pile pressure on Mancini

Swede Viktor Claesson smashed in a late winner as managerless Krasnodar grabbed a 2-1 win at Zenit St Petersburg on Saturday to pile the pressure on home coach Roberto Mancini.

Mancini has been heavily linked with the Italian national team job, after a disappointing first season in charge of Zenit.

But the former Manchester City and Inter Milan boss denied reports he will take a big pay-off and leave the club in the coming weeks.

"First, if we talk about money, then I'm not interested in any payout (for the contract cancellation)," said the 53-year-old.

"If I decide to leave Zenit, I will not demand any money. It's not about money.

"I'm not interested in Zenit's money. As for the players, I am trying to make them a team, the main thing for me is that they listen to me. Yes, the results are disappointing, but we are working on it."

The victory lifted Krasnodar into fourth, level on points with CSKA Moscow, who take on city rivals Dynamo on Monday looking to move clear in the third and final Champions League spot.

Zenit, who led the table during the early weeks of the season, dropped to fifth.

The hosts started brightly but it was Krasnodar who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.

Claesson headed down a long ball into the box to Oleg Shatov and the 27-year-old, who was loaned from Zenit in February, hammered the ball home against his parent club from 16 yards out.

Zenit drew level 11 minutes later through midfielder Alexander Erokhin, who beat Krasnodar 'keeper Andrei Sinitsyn with a deflected effort.

But Fedor Smolov found Claesson unmarked with a back-heeled pass and the Swedish international fired home with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

"We made a mess of things in the first half making too many mistakes," said Krasnodar stand-in manager Murad Musayev, who took over last week after Igor Shalimov was sacked following a 1-1 home draw with struggling Anzhi Makhachkala.

"During the break we made some rearrangements and in the second half we looked much better. I'm very glad that despite tiredness we scored the winning goal and managed to hold on."

Elsewhere, a brace by Igor Gorbatenko gave Arsenal Tula a 2-1 win over Ufa which gave them the lead in the two clubs' race for sixth, which could yet provide a Europa League place.