Europa League Full Time Report: Zenit St Petersburg vs. Anderlecht
Zenit were playing host to Anderlecht as both the teams were scheduled Europa League clash. However on the end of the day it was the dominant home side that went on to crush the visitors by a score line of three goals to one, to ensure a spot in the knock-out
stages of the tournament.
Zenit took the lead through Aleksei Ionov and Alexander Bukharov, who scored the opening two goals. In both those goals the Zenit midfielder Danny, managed to play a highly influential role and as a result picked up two assists as well for his brilliance.
The late introduction of Anderlecht substitute Ziguy Badibanga also managed to spark an instantaneous come back by the visitors as the substitute went on to set up Kanu to pull one goal back for the away side. However Zenit managed to respond almost immediately
and scored the third decisive goal through Szabolcs Huszti.
The game opened rather quietly, with both the teams looking to be feeling out of place in the snow covered pitch. However on the twelfth minute the home side took the lead. Danny slid in a brilliant ball into the penalty area and Ionov managed to race onto
it and tuck it into the goal from twelve yards out.
The first half remained pretty quite after the opening goal and the score line remained at one goal to nil at the end of the opening forty five minutes.
The second half picked off with not a major change in the pace of the game. However the home side were taking advantage of the local weather conditions and managed to pull another goal back.
Danny was once again the provider as he slipped in a threaded ball for Bukharov, who managed to keep his calm and calmly finish past the onrushing Proto.
The away team managed to pull a goal back via Kanu. The second-half substitute Badibanga was the architect as he curled in a brilliant cross for Kanu to nod into the back of the net.
However after the restart Zenit swept ahead and managed to score almost immediately after the kick off via Huszti. Fernado Meira was the provider of the cross for that goal and after that goal the match eventually ended with Zenit the comfortable winners
on the night.
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