Epress.am News from Armenia
Nicolas Lombaerts scored in first-half injury time to give Zenit St. Petersburg a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday, San Antonio Express-News reports, citing AP.
The Belgian defender headed in Konstantin Zyryanov’s corner past goalkeeper Olexandr Rybka to improve Zenit’s chances of advancing from Group G.
The win puts Zenit in second place in Group G, three points ahead of third-place FC Porto with two games to go. Porto lost 2-1 to group leader APOEL, which has eight points.
Zenit, which played to a 2-2 draw in Donetsk two weeks ago, was in control of the game from the start and outshot the visitors 15-1. Shakhtar never threatened goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev before the break.
Midfielder Igor Denisov set up Zenit’s first clear chance in the 30th minute by firing from just outside the box. Rybka blocked the shot and stretched his leg to deny Zyryanov from scoring from the rebound. Eight minutes later, Zenit playmaker Danny broke down the right flank and into the box but his shot from narrow angle hit the right post.
Danny neatly lifted the ball into the box for Aleksandr Buharov to head toward goal, but Rybka made another save, stretching his left arm to palm the ball over the crossbar in the 40th.
Zenit continued to dominate and Roman Shirokov broke into the box past three defenders just before the break, only to send his shot straight at Rybka.
Shakhtar was on the attack in the beginning of the second half but could not break through Zenit’s defense. Willian’s drive from 30 meters, which Malafeev punched over the crossbar, was Shakhtar’s only shot on goal in the match.
“Zenit has played a brilliant game,” coach Luciano Spalletti said. “We had 15 shots on goal to their one. The team has played in high tempo and deserved the victory.”
The result left Shakhtar, a quarterfinalist last season, at the bottom of the group standings.
“Zenit deserved the victory,” Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu said. “They played better in the first half while we have created nothing. We played better after the break and controlled the ball. But we should have played like this from the very first minute to the last one.”
Shaktar was without six key players because of injuries and suspensions.
Russia President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana watched the second half at Petrovsky stadium in St. Petersburg.
Zenit next hosts APOEL while Shakhtar will be at home against FC Porto on Nov. 23.