Zenit St Petersburg may have started a slow climb back to the top in Russia, but the reigning champions failed to get past a first division side in the national cup.
For their 16th final match on Wednesday, Zenit travelled to Siberia to face Sibir Novosibirsk, currently twelfth in Russia’s second flight.
Zenit failed to convince against their inferior opponents, and the first half went by without goals.
And nineteen minutes into the second half, it was striker Aleksey Medvedev to score the only goal of the match.
Current league leaders Rubin Kazan only just managed to survive this round, beating 2nd division side Smena Komsomolsk on penalties after a 1-1 result.
