The men’s handball Super League semifinals followed a tight script: no third games were needed, and neither future finalist lost in regulation time. Zenit and CSKA simply overpowered their opponents. The result is a repeat of last year’s final between the two capitals. Here’s how Moscow and St. Petersburg turned the semifinals into their own showcase.
How the Regular Season Ended:
Handball Zenit clinched first place in the regular season! The final round was extremely intense.
**Zenit vs Chekhov Bears – 2-0**
The main intrigue of this matchup died roughly five minutes into the first game in Chekhov. Literally, because Zenit made it clear almost immediately that no suspense was planned. Playing away, the St. Petersburg side won 33-28 – a score that doesn’t reflect the true balance on the court. The Bears started briskly, even leading by three goals, but maintaining that illusion of equal fight cost them as much energy as trying to hold up a car-sized barbell. Then came the key moment.
Just before halftime, the referees disallowed a goal from the visitors and awarded a free throw. Lineman Vyacheslav Bokhan stepped up to take it. The ball flew through the Chekhov wall with such speed that Pavlenko had no idea what happened. That throw became the psychological point of no return: the hosts realized their strong first half had no impact on the scoreboard.
In the second half, Zenit’s playmakers systematically baffled the opponent’s defense. By the middle of the second period, the lead had grown to +6. The Chekhov team mounted a desperate but ultimately futile comeback, draining their last physical and emotional reserves. By then, Bokhan had received a red card and passed the MVP honors to his teammate Evgeny Nikanovich: seven shots, seven goals – 100% efficiency in the semifinal.
The second game in St. Petersburg turned into a formality with a touch of showmanship. The final score was 29-28, but only those who didn’t watch the match would think there was real competition. Zenit led by six goals with four minutes left and simply switched off, allowing the Chekhov team to slightly polish the final score. The hosts didn’t even bring four players off the bench. Dmitry Torgovanov apparently decided they would be needed in the final.
The semifinal was decided in the first game, and honestly, it seemed decided even earlier. While Zenit comfortably dispatched Moscow’s Akademiki in the quarterfinals, the Chekhov Bears barely escaped against Dynamo-Sungul. Last year’s Super League champion noticeably improved, but the same couldn’t be said for its opponent. Final result: 2-0 in the series and a cold-blooded ticket to the final.
**CSKA vs Perm Bears – 2-0**
If the Zenit-Chekhov Bears series resembled a duel where one participant forgot to load his pistol, CSKA against the Perm Bears turned into a real meat grinder. Two games, three red cards, several suspensions, and one goalkeeper who decided the series single-handedly.
In Perm, the Bears started as if they forgot they were up against one of the most organized teams in the league. By the 25th minute, the hosts were down 8-14, and the air smelled of an early series end. However, the Perm team showed character, clawing back six goals to tie the score at 21-21. The closing moments decided it, with the Army team coming out on top. The final score was 30-27, which gave them a solid advantage but not a guaranteed spot in the final.
The hero of the night was 39-year-old Vadim Bogdanov. CSKA’s goalkeeper finished the first half with 50% reliability, saving 10 of 20 shots, half of them from close range. His counterpart Dyachenko, with nine saves at 23%, looked like a pale imitation.
In attack, CSKA was led by Dmitry Ionov, who scored nine goals, with six of seven shots finding the net in the first half alone. For the Perm Bears, Nikita Kamenev responded with nine goals. However, Alexander Arkatov had a poor first match: five shots, all saved by Bogdanov.
In Moscow, the Bears had to fight back, but their plans went up in smoke immediately. The score was 7-7 by the 10th minute, but then the visitors…