This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
Hulk the only shining light in Monaco and Zenit St Petersburg stalemate
Sorry - this page has been removed.
(6 months later)
Hulk was the stand-out performer for Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League Group C goalless draw with Monaco, hours after it had been confirmed that he had been the target of racial abuse in a league match.
This could be because it launched early, our rights have expired, there was a legal issue, or for another reason.
The Brazilian international, who had told a Russian newspaper that he could hear monkey chants aimed at him by visiting Spartak Moscow fans on Saturday, produced a lively display at the same venue, the Petrovsky Stadium.
Even his occasional flashes of brilliance, though, could not break the deadlock as Zenit and Monaco played out a disappointing stalemate on a freezing night.
For further information, please contact:
Hulk, who helped create a couple of Zenit’s best chances with his surging runs, had earlier told the Sport Express newspaper that on Saturday “I clearly heard monkey chants shouted in my direction and this was not only on one occasion.
“It was coming from a large group of people...I take this as a personal insult for me and my club.”
Artur Grigoryants, head of the Russian Football Union (RFS) disciplinary committee, also confirmed that racial abuse had taken place before the panel announced Spartak supporters would be banned from attending the club’s next away game at Ural Yekaterinburg on 19 October.
The dispiriting controversy showed no signs of disrupting Hulk’s form against Monaco, though, as Zenit, despite being unable to find any early rhythm in the absence of their Belgian midfield fulcrum Axel Witsel, protected a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
After an uninspiring first half the home crowd grew increasingly restless as Monaco, largely untroubled and well marshalled by the veteran centre back Ricardo Carvalho, were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure.
Chances were at a premium for both sides in the first 45 minutes but one of the better ones fell to Dimitar Berbatov, who forced a fine save from the Zenit goalkeeper, Yuri Lodygin, at close range.
Hulk ran half the length of the pitch before laying the ball off to the Portuguese international Danny but his shot was wild and sailed over the crossbar.
In the second half Hulk also managed to power free down the left flank and slide the ball across to José Rondón, but the ball was just behind the Venezuelan, whose finish was weak.
Midway through the second period Nicolas Lombaerts headed straight at the Monaco keeper, Subasic, as André Villas-Boas’s side wasted another good chance and the home fans grew increasingly restless. Zenit and Monaco both have four points from two games.
