Zenit St Petersburg and Gent met in their Champions League clash at Petrovsky Stadium on Tuesday.
Andre Villa-Boas's men were looking to build on their victory over Valencia in their first match of the competition, while the Belgian club were eyeing a similar display to their battling 1-1 draw against Lyon in their opener.
Hulk unlocked the Gent defence to allow Artem Dzyuba to fire the hosts ahead, but Thomas Matton brought the visitors level in the second half. However, Hulk produced further fine play to create the chance for Oleg Shatov to secure a 2-1 win for Zenit.
Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
7.15pmGood evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Zenit St Petersburg and Gent.
7.17pmThe Russian side got their campaign off to an impressive start as they defeated Valencia in their opener at the Mestalla. Hulk notched a brace, but the home side rallied in the second half through Joao Cancelo and Andre Gomes, but Axel Witsel won the game for Andre Villas-Boas's men with a strike in the 78th minute. Zenit lead Group H after the first round of fixtures and will be determined to extend their advantage tonight.
7.20pmGent started their campaign on a positive as they came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in their clash againt Lyon, despite playing the majority of the match with 10 men after Brecht Dejaeghere was dismissed. The French outfit took the lead through Christophe Jallet, but Danijel Milijevic earned his side a point to get them off the mark.
7.22pmThe team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
7.26pmZENIT STARTING XI: Kerzakhov; Smolnikov, Garay. Lombaerts, Anyukov; Javi Garcia, Witsel, Danny; Shatov, Hulk, Dzyuba
Subs: Lodygin, Neto, Yusupov, Ryazantsev, Criscito, Dolgov, Eseev
Subs: Lodygin, Neto, Yusupov, Ryazantsev, Criscito, Dolgov, Eseev
7.28pmGENT STARTING XI: Sels; Rafinha, Mitrovic, Asare, Nielsen; Matton, Renato Neto, Kums, Saief; Milicevic, Depoitre
Subs: Vandenbussche, Vitas, Coulibaly, Van der Bruggen, Raman, Simon, Pedersen
Subs: Vandenbussche, Vitas, Coulibaly, Van der Bruggen, Raman, Simon, Pedersen
7.33pmThe Belgian side have made three changes to their lineup from their 1-1 draw against Lyon in their opener. Dejaegere and Foket are suspended and are replaced by Thomas Matton and Rafinha. Meanwhile, Hasan Saief comes into the lineup to replace Moses Simon.
7.35pmVillas-Boas has made two changes to his side that defeated Valencia last time out in the competition as Oleg Shatov and Mikhail Kerzhakov come into the team in place of Yury Lodygin and Domenico Criscito.
7.39pmVillas-Boas has admitted that his side will need a strong performance to get a positive result from tonight's clash.
He told reporters: "Gent have a strong team spirit and it's hard to pick out any individual players. Their draw with Lyon was proof of their ability; even though they [were down to nine men] they fought and fought. Gent have a mixture of youth and experience, and the ability to cause any opponent problems.
"We need a good home display. We have players who can decide a game on their own; they can find space. We also know the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents, but most of all we need to maintain our own motivation, discipline and concentration. We have to perform with confidence."
7.42pmGent boss Hein Vanhaezebrouck has bemoaned a lack of rest ahead of his side's match this evening, and is extremely wary of the threat Zenit will pose.
He told reporters: "We arrived late and did not have time to conduct training. Usually we have an afternoon nap, but not on Monday. But we hopefully have time to have a good rest and prepare for the match. Zenit are a team you can only admire, they have a lot of strengths.
"Valencia are also a strong team, but you cannot say Zenit beating them was a surprise. Everything is new to us at the moment – new stadium, new situation – and we need to get used to it. Zenit have experience, they have a lot of foreign players, a lot of strong individuals, so they're not the easiest of opponents."
7.43pmThe players are out on the pitch and we should be underway shortly.
1 minKICKOFF! We're underway in this Champions League clash.
1 minWitsel goes down in a heap 40 seconds in the game as Depoitre goes in hard on his ankle. The forward appeared to step on his foot and it looks a sore one for the Belgian.
3 minHulk goes down the on the edge of the area under the challenge of Nielsen. A chance for the home side to threaten.
4 minCHANCE! Garay curls his effort over the wall, but Sels sticks out a strong hand and manages to turn the ball past the post. An excellent save by the keeper because the strike from the Argentine was creeping into the bottom corner.
5 minCHANCE! Witsel misses a glorious chance to hand his side the lead from the corner. Hulk takes the first cross and his effort is cleared only as far as Smolnikov, who lays the ball back into the path of the Brazilian. His low cross finds Witsel unmarked in the box, but the midfielder can only send his effort over the bar.
9 minCHANCE! The home side cause problems again from a set piece as Hulk sends in an out-swinging corner from the left, and Lombaerts heads towards goal. Danny reacts to the flick-on in the six-yard box and diverts the ball towards the top corner, but Sels is there again to turn the ball over the bar. The referee blew for a foul anyway so the goal would not have counted, but another fine save from the Gent keeper.
12 minThe Russian side attack with menace on the counter as Dzyuba and Danny link up in the final third, but the midfielder's looped cross to the back post is headed away by Nielsen with Hulk lurking behind him.
14 minGent raid down the left for the first time in the match through Asare, who has men forward in support to hit in the box. However, his low cross into the box is cleared with ease by Lombaerts.
18 minCHANCE! Dzyuba misses a great opportunity top put the hosts ahead as Smolnikov and Hulk link up well down the right. The Brazilian lays a through-ball down the flank for the right-back, who sends a pinpoint cross to the near post for the run of the forward. However, Dzyuba can only fire his first-time volley wide of the post.
20 minNeto almost gets in behind Anyukov down the left, but the left-back manages to recover just in time to knock the winger off the ball and clear for his side. A good turn of pace from Neto to threaten the Zenit goal.
21 minA long ball over the top of the Gent defence finds Shatov in all sorts of space as the Belgian side appeal for offside. The flag does not come up and the loose ball ricochets into the path of Dzyuba on the edge of the box, but Rafinha comes across to make the vital challenge to break up the attack.
23 minCHANCE! Asare raids down the left again and this time his cross does threaten the Zenit goal Saief tries to race on to the ball at the back post. However, Anyukov shows great awareness to read the danger and put the ball behind for a corner.
25 minThe visitors are knocking the ball around at the back to take the pace out of the match. They've had a solid start to the game bar two opportunities for the home side from set pieces, and Vanhaezebrouck will no doubt be happier of the managers.
26 minDzyuba gets in behind the Gent defence, but does not have the pace to advance into the box. He offloads the ball to Hul who cuts inside on his left foot from the right and fires an effort towards goal, only to see his strike sail well over the bar.
30 minIt has been a frustrating half for Dzyuba and his anger will mount after Anyukov slides the ball into the box, but the forward is flagged for backing into Rafinha. There didn't look to be much in that, but the referee opted to blow his whistle.
32 minNeto makes a threatening run down the flank and manages to get past Anyukov to the byline. He has two players awaiting the cross in the box and opts to stand the ball up, but Kerzhakov jumps to claim the ball over the head of Depoitre.
35 minGOAL! Zenit 1-0 Gent (Dzyuba)
35 minZenit take the lead out of nothing as Dzyuba heads home from close range after latching on to Hulk's cross into the box. The goal was all down to the Brazilian as he raided down the left and displayed his power by brushing off the challenge of Rafinha, sending the right-back to the ground. His cross was pinpoint and the forward made no mistake heading the ball into the top corner.
38 minSaief bounds forward into the final third and has space to unleash a shot, but delays his strike which allows Anyukov to get back to make the vital challenge. Gent should have a corner, but the referee awards a free kick. Not the first curious decision from the official this evening.
41 minYELLOW CARD! Depoitre goes into the book for a nothing challenge on Shatov in the final third. His reaction sends him into the book, but it seems harsh as he seemed to have a look of disbelief rather than real anger.
43 minA chance for the visitors to threaten from a free kick as Javi Garcia brings down Kums 35 yards from goal.
43 minMilicevic's free kick is cleared with ease by the home side, but Asare tries to rescue the situation for Gent. He knocks the ball back to Kums, who tries a diagonal ball into the box, but Garay is on hand to win the ball and quell the attack.
45 minMitrovic and Hulk collide in the centre circle and the Brazilian wins a free kick. Unsurprisingly the Gent man comes off worse in the challenge as he hits the deck clutching his chest. Imagine it's like hitting a brick wall when you try to take on Hulk in a one-on-one situation tackle.
45 minHALF-TIME: Zenit 1-0 Gent
8.35pmThe home side hold a narrow lead at the break thanks to Artem Dzyuba's goal in the 35th minute. Zenit have been the better side, but lacked a clinical edge in the final third before Hulk carved out the opening for his teammate to strike.
8.37pmGent have struggled to carve out any openings in final third, but were solid enough at the back in the opening 35 minutes before they were undone by the quality and power of Hulk. Vanhaezebrouck will want to see more from his side's attacking players in the second half.
8.43pmThe players are back out for the second half so we should be underway shortly.
46 minRESTART! We're back underway in this Champions League clash.
47 minEarly threat from the visitors as Asare is played down the left, but his cross is cleared with ease by Lombaerts. Matton picks the ball up on the edge of the box, but as he uses his arm to control the ball and the referee brings the attack to an end.
48 minDepoitre does well down the right for the visitors to win a corner under pressure from Anyutov. However. the delivery from the right from Milicevicm is poor and once again the home side can clear without danger from the Belgian team.
49 minHulk raids into the final third and runs at Rafinha into the box. The striker goes down in the box, but too easily for the referee, who dismisses his claims of a penalty.
51 minA long ball over the top of the Gent defence has Nielsen in all sorts of problems as he tries to play the ball back to Sels. However, he miscues his pass and Dzyuba almost pounces on the loose ball, but Sels rushes off his line to smother the ball at the feet of the striker.
56 minGOAL! Zenit 1-1 Gent (Matton)
56 minGent are back in the game courtesy of a fine strike from Matton as he his right-footed volley finds the bottom corner. Kums was the architect of the goal as he was allowed to raid forward from midfield into the box, and his lofted pass found his teammate unmarked at the back post and Matton finished in style. Wonderful technique from the midfielder.
58 minPENALTY SHOUT! Zenit respond immediately to the equaliser as Hulk receives the ball down the left and arcs a cross to the back post for Dzyuba, who tries to head at goal, but he cannot make decent contact to miss the target. However, the striker was pushed at the last second by Mitrovic as he fell to the ground, but the referee dismissed the home side's claims for a spot kick.
60 minYELLOW CARD! Depoitre goes in for a challenge with Lombaerts, but he misses the defender, who lands awkwardly on his ankle. It invokes a furious reaction from the Zenit players who surround the referee, demanding that the Belgian is given his second yellow card. However, the official books Javi Garcia who goes over the top in his appeal to get the Gent forward sent off. Needless from the Zenit players.
62 minSUBSTITUTION: Lombaerts cannot shake off his injury and is replaced by Luis Neto.
63 minGent smell blood in the water and go on the attack down the left as Saief feeds the run of Asare. The winger has a run at Smolnikov down the wing before he cuts the ball back to Kums on the edge of the box. The midfielder has space and time to shoot at goal, but he sends his effort past the post.
67 minGOAL! Zenit 2-1 Gent (Shatov)
67 minZenit retake the lead against the run of play and further brilliance from Hulk creates the opening for Shatov, who holds his composure to lift the ball over Sels into the net. The Brazilian received the ball 40 yards from goal and ran at the Belgian side's defence, coasting past three players before he checked back on to his left foot to slide a sublime through-ball for Shatov. The forward took the ball in stride and lifted the ball over the advancing Sels into the net. A great team goal for the home side.
69 minSaief makes a promising run into the final third as the visitors took to fight back, but Shatov displays his wilingness to track back by winning the ball from the winger and raiding forward on the break.
71 minSUBSTITUTION: Dzyuba heads off for the home side and is replaced by Yusupov.
73 minSaief finds space down the right again as he raids to the byline and he plays the back to Rafinha, who sends a low ball across the face of goal. However, there is no yellow shirt to attack the ball and it travels out for a throw-in.
75 minCHANCE! Gent carve out a dangerous opening when Saief's cross travels to the back post for Asare. Matton meets his ball back into the box, but Garay makes the block. The clearance lands at the feet of Neto, who swings his foot at the ball, but his strike goes just wide of the post.
80 minSUBSTITUTION: Pedersen comes on for the visitors to replace Milicevic.
81 minHulk almost threads the needle again with a low through-ball for the run of Shatov into the box, but Rafinha gets back just in time to put the ball behind for a corner.
83 minSUBSTITUTION: Matton comes off for the visiors to be replaced by Raman.
84 minGent are piling forwards on to the pitch in the hope of earning a point from the match. There is still plenty of time for them here to find a goal.
85 minA through-ball from Kums finds the run of Pedersen and Raman in the final third, but the substitutes get in each others way and Garay is able to nip in and play the ball back downfield.
86 minAsare lifts a cross to the back post for Pedersen, who does well to bring the ball out of the air. The forward tries to manoeuvre room for the strike, but gets crowded out. Pedersen then tries to find the run of Saief, but his pass is snuffed out by Anyukov.
87 minSUBSTITUTION: Ryazantsev comes on for the home side to replace Shatov.
88 minCHANCE! Hulk almost caps his fine performance this evening with a goal as he rifles the ball at goal from 35 yards from a free kick. The ball sails towards the top corner like a bullett, but Sels manages to tip the ball over. His fingers have to be sore after that one.
90 minYELLOW CARD! Pedersen goes into the book for a challenge on Javi Garcia.
90 minThere will be three minutes of added time.
90 + 2 minZenit have the ball deep in the Bent half of the pitch and are making life extremely diffucult for the Belgian side to get out of their own box. Good pressing by the home team.
90 + 3 minFULL-TIME: Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 Gent
9.35pmZenit secure the victory this evening thanks to goals from Artem Dzyuba and Oleg Shatov. Thomas Matton equalised in the second half of the contest to cancel out Dzyuba's opener, but Shatov found the net in the 67th minute to fire his team to the win. Hulk was the difference between the two sides as he created both goals for Andre Villas-Boas's men. His strength, vision and craft were crucial were on display in both assists and he was surely man of the match at the Petrovsky Stadium. Zenit stay top of the table as a result of their second win on the spin in Group H, while Gent remain in third.
9.40pmThanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
