Hulk and Smolnikov link up well on the right-hand side of the Gent penalty area before the latter cuts a lovely pass back to Danny, but the linesman's flag is raised for offside just as the captain is about to shoot.
90' +1
It's all Zenit at the moment, who are finding it incredibly easy to hold onto possession. Gent, who have been struggling to get forward since the hosts scored their second goal, are now looking completely out of the game.
90'
K. Coulibaly enters the game and replaces Rafinha.
N. Pedersen gets yellow.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
Coulibaly comes on to take the place of Rafinha as Gent look to push forward in search of a late equaliser.
Pedersen catches Garcia with a clumsy high boot, and he's ability shown a yellow card as a result.
89'
What a strike by Hulk! The Brazilian unleashes an almighty shot from the resulting set-piece that looks set for the roof of the net, but Sels does extremely well to tip it over the top of the crossbar with an excellent save.
88'
A. Ryazantsev enters the game and replaces O. Shatov.
K. Saief gets yellow.
Saief flies into Yusupov and brings the substitute crashing to the ground with a poor sliding challenge, resulting in a free kick for Zenit and a yellow card for the Israeli.
Shatov makes his way off to be replaced by Ryazantsev for the final few moments.
87'
Gent work the ball around well before it bounces out to Rafinha on the right flank. The defender immediately curls a cross towards the head of Pedersen but Kerzhakov charges out to collect the pass with a strong save.
85'
Once again, Zenit sit deep and wait for the opportunity to hit Gent on the counter attack. They do so through Hulk, but a poor pass from the Brazilian, arguably his first of the game, brings the move to an end.
84'
B. Raman enters the game and replaces T. Matton.
Gent have made another substitution, with Matton making way for Raman.
82'
Great defending by Saief! Hulk picks up the ball in a dangerous position and immediately sends a lovely through-ball into the path of Shatov, but the aforementioned Israeli is there to cut out the pass with a vital sliding interception on the edge of the penalty area.
80'
N. Pedersen enters the game and replaces D. Miličević.
Pedersen comes on to the pitch to take the place of Milicevic in an attacking move for Gent.
Minute
Description
79'
Once again, a Gent attack comes to a disappointing end, allowing Zenit to push forward quickly. Danny flies forward but is forced into turning his run into a jog as he waits for players to come and find him, which doesn't happen in time.
78'
And now Shatov goes close! Zenit break forward quickly through Hulk, who charges forward before teeing up the Russian winger. He cuts inside before unleashing a thumping strike from the edge of the penalty area, but it's overhit and flies well over the top of the crossbar.
76'
Great chance for Neto! An overhit cross from Saief flies over to the back post, where it finds Asare. The left-back immediately hits a low cross into the box, where it bounces off Garay and into the path of the aforementioned Brazilian, but his first-time shot ends up flying just wide of the goal.
74'
Depoitre goes close! Neto bursts down the right flank before cutting a lovely pass back to the aforementioned striker, who immediately unleashes a cross-cum-shot that curls past the far post and out to the opposite wing.
72'
A. Yusupov enters the game and replaces A. Dzyuba.
Dzyuba receives a standing ovation from the Zenit fans as he makes his way off the pitch to be replaced by Yusupov for the final 20 minutes.
71'
Gent are bossing possession once again, but they're finding it incredibly difficult to find a way past the sea of blue shirts in front of them, who are looking well organised as they sit incredibly deep inside their own half of the pitch.
69'
Depoitre flies down the right flank before sending a dangerous bouncing cross into the middle of the Zenit penalty area. It almost meets Matton but Garay does well to get down low to head it away from danger before the midfielder can get a shot away.
67'
O. Shatov has scored a goal for Zenit! Assist by Hulk.
GOAL! Zenit are back in front! Hulk charges through a sea of Gent players before sending an absolutely wonderful through-ball straight into the feet of Shatov, who takes a quick touch before beating Sels with a lovely chipped shot that leaves the goalkeeper with no choice.
66'
Zenit push forward on a patient attack down the right flank before earning themselves a corner, but it's poorly hit by Hulk and fails to trouble the Gent defence.
64'
A loose pass from Anyukov allows Gent to break forward down the left wing, but Matton is quickly dispossessed by Hulk, who wins the ball back with an excellent interception on the edge of the penalty area.
62'
Luís Neto enters the game and replaces N. Lombaerts.
Lombaerts looks to be really struggling after falling awkwardly after clashing with Depoitre, and he eventually makes his way off the pitch to be replaced by Neto.
60'
Javi García gets yellow.
Lombaerts is brought to the ground by Depoitre, resulting in an angry reaction from the Zenit players. The referee shows no sympathy with them and immediately shows a yellow card to Garcia for dissent.
58'
Dzyuba is brought down inside the penalty area, but nothing is given! Hulk floats a superb cross towards the back post, where it finds the aforementioned striker, who is hauled to the ground by Mitrovic. The hosts scream for a penalty but nothing is given, much to the frustration of the goal scorer.
56'
T. Matton has scored a goal for Gent! Assist by S. Kums.
GOAL! Gent have equalised! Kums breaks forward on a lovely run forward and beats Smolnikov with ease before sending an excellent cross to the back post, where it finds Matton. The midfielder is left completely unmarked and, as a result, is easily able to beat Kerzhakov with a wonderful header from close range.
55'
After a few minutes of Zenit pressure, the pace of the game has slowed down somewhat, with both sides battling for the ball in the middle of the pitch.
53'
Nervy moments for Nielsen! A lofted pass forward bouncs over the head of the Danish centre-back and into the path of Dzyuba, who muscles the defender away before going one-on-one with Sels. However, the referee immediately awards a free kick to Gent, much to the relief of the under-pressure Belgian side.
51'
After dealing with the corner, Zenit immediately break away on a quick counter attack, with Hulk flying forward before penetrating the left-hand side of the penalty area. Rafinha charges in front of the forward and brings him down to the ground, but, despite the pleas for a penalty from the hosts, the referee tells him to get to his feet before the ball rolls out of play for a goal kick.
50'
Depoitre battles with Lombaerts near the byline before earning Gent a corner on the right wing. Milicevic swings a lovely cross into the middle of the box, where it pinballs around before Witsel clears the danger with a strong header.
48'
Saeif is caught by Hulk, and Gent are awarded a free kick on the right wing as a result. They take it short and try to work their way forward, but the sea of blue shirts keep them at bay and their forced to play the ball back into their own half of the pitch.
47'
Gent immediately push forward on a dangerous attack before Asare curls a great cross into the heart of the penalty area. It's half dealt with by the Zenit defence before hitting the arm of Matton, resulting in a free kick for the hosts.
46'
And we're underway once again!
45'
Mitrovic flies into the back of Hulk and brings the Brazilian crashing to the ground, but it's the Gent defender who comes out worse off as he rolls around in pain just as the referee brings an end to the first half.
44'
Kums sends the resulting set-piece into a dangerous area of the Zenit box, but Lombaerts does well to jump high to send it away with a strong header.
43'
Kums embarks on a great run through the middle of the pitch before being tripped over by Garcia, resulting in a free kick for Gent 35 yards away from the Zenit goal.
42'
L. Depoitre gets yellow.
Depoitre and Smolnikov tangle whilst battling for the ball deep inside the Zenit half of the pitch, resulting in a free kick for the hosts. The Gent striker then kicks the ball away in frustration at the decision and is immediately shown a yellow card.
41'
Again, Gent try to find joy down the right flank, where Saief has previously shown so much pressure, but this time the Israeli is quickly swamped by blue shirts and, as a result, he ends up being dispossessed on the edge of the penalty area.
39'
Saief, who has arguably been one of Gent's best players thus far, flies into the right-hand side of the penalty area before being dispossessed by a thumping tackle from Anyukov. Every player is expecting a corner to be given but the referee insteads awards a goal kick, much to the annoyance of the visitors.
37'
Gent break away on a quick attack through the space left in the centre of the pitch by the Zenit midfielders, but Kums' attempted through-ball towards Depoitre is overhit and is cut out by Garay on the edge of the penalty area.
35'
A. Dzyuba has scored a goal for Zenit! Assist by Hulk.
GOAL! Zenit have taken the lead! Hulk breaks down the left wing and cuts into the penalty area before using his great strength to beat Rafinha with ease. He then chips a lovely cross right onto the head of Dzyuba, who easily beats Sels with his well-placed, close-range header.
34'
Zenit are starting to go on the front foot again. Gent have pushed deeper and are now finding themselves under pressure by the hosts, who have upped the tempo of their attacks over the last few minutes.
32'
Zenit work the ball around patiently before Shatov finds Dzyuba with a bouncing cross from the left flank, but the striker carelessly strays into an offside position and the linesman's flag is immediately raised as a result.
30'
After a bright start, it's become very flat for Zenit. The hosts previously looked dangerous when pushing forward but are now finding it difficult to find a way past Gent's well-organised defence.
28'
Zenit earn themselves a free kick on the left flank, which Shatov sends towards the far post. It's poorly hit by the winger, however, and flies past every available player before bouncing out for a goal kick.
26'
A Gent attack breaks down and Hulk flies forward once again. He tees up Dzyuba, who then quickly sends the ball back, but the Brazilian's curling shot from the edge of the penalty area is completely mishit and, as a result, ends up flying out of play for a goal kick.
24'
Gent are growing in confidence as the game wears on. It is now they who are firmly on the front foot as they continue to put the hosts under pressure.
22'
Great chance for Gent! Asare is left in far too much space on the left wing, allowing him to fly forward before sending a lovely low cross towards the back post. It flies past three Zenit players before almost meeting Saief, but Anyukov does well to poke it out of play for a corner being it can do so.
20'
Saief embarks on a great run down the right wing before cutting into the penalty area, but just as he's able to get a shot away he's dispossessed by a vital interception from Lombaerts.
19'
Fantastic opportunity for Dzyuba! Hulk and Smolnikov link up wonderfully well on the right wing before the latter sends an excellent cross right onto the foot of the aforementioned striker, but he somehow ends up sending his close-range volley wide of the goal.
17'
Danny picks up the ball on the halfway line and immediately beats two Gent players before charging forward. He then sends a chipped pass off Nielsen and towards the head of Shatov, but Sels rushes off his line to cut out the danger.
16'
Gent are working the ball around nicely inside the Zenit half of the pitch, but the blue shirts camped in front of them seem to be too much for them to handle, and once again they are unable to turn their possession into a chance on goal.
14'
Again, Gent lose the ball just as they enter the Zenit half of the pitch, and the hosts immediately fly forward through Hulk. The Brazilian plays a quick one-two with Danny before the latter tries to find Dzyuba with a curling cross, but Rafinha is there to cut it out with a strong header.
12'
Gent work the ball around patiently before trying to find a way into the Zenit half of the pitch, but they're putting under an incredible amount of pressure by the hosts and are forced back towards their own goal.
10'
Sels rescues Gent once again! Another dangerous Zenit corner is flung towards the back post, where it finds Danny, but the attacking midfielder's close-range header is brilliantly tipped over the top of the crossbar by the Belgian goalkeeper.
8'
A half-hearted Gent attack comes to an end, allowing Zenit to break away on a blisteringly quick counter-attack. Hulk flies down the left wing before trying to cut into the box, but Rafinha is there to dispossess his fellow countryman with a vital interception.
6'
And now Witsel goes close! The resulting corner is cleared out of play for another, which this time finds Hulk. The Brazilian breaks down the right wing before cutting a lovely pass back to the aforementioned Belgian, who then fires his first-time strike a few yards over the top of the crossbar.
5'
What a save by Sels! Garay steps up and unleashes an excellent strike that curls round the Gent wall before being pushed round the post by the Belgian goalkeeper.
4'
Great play by Hulk! The Brazilian embarks on a wonderful run forward and twists and turns on the edge of the Gent penalty area before being scythed to the ground by Nielsen, resulting in a free kick for Zenit in a very dangerous position.
3'
After a long period of Zenit possession, Milicevic charges down the right flank before trying to curl a cross towards Depoitre, but it's completely overhit and flies out of play for a goal kick.
1'
And we're off! Zenit get us underway, attacking from left to right.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Champions League clash between Zenit and Gent. My name is Ben Cullimore and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action from the Petrovsky Stadium.
Overall, it’s been a lacklustre start to the season for Zenit, who already sit eight points behind current Russian Premier League leaders CSKA Moscow after winning only half of their opening 10 games. The announcement that head coach Andre Villa-Boas will leave the club at the end of the current season has not made matters any better, as the Saint Petersburg side are now without a win in their last four domestic clashes. They have looked far better in the Champions League, however, and host Gent after picking up a well-deserved 3-2 victory against Valencia in their opening group stage encounter, but they will still be wary of the Belgian side, who showed plenty of promise two weeks ago.
That game, Gent’s first back in the Champions League after a five-year absence, saw the Belgian Pro League champions hold Lyon to a 1-1 draw at home, despite the fact that they were reduced to nine men in a fiery encounter with their French opponents that saw Matz Sels salvage a point for the hosts with a penalty save in the 88th minute. The point gained continued their unbeaten run, which now stands at 11 matches thanks to Saturday’s comfortable 3-1 victory against Waasland-Beveren. Whilst Zenit are arguably the favourites to come away with all three points, the Buffalos will be quietly confident that they can cause an upset tonight against a side that have faltered in recent weeks.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Gent substitutes: Vandenbussche, Vitas, Van der Brugge, Simon, Raman, Pedersen, Coulibaly.
Andre Villas-Boas has decided to make just one change to the Zenit side that started the narrow 2-2 draw away to Spartak Moscow on Saturday, with second-choice goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov coming into the squad to make his debut in place of Yuri Lodygin, who has been criticised for his poor recent form.
Meanwhile, Gent boss Hein Vanhaezebrouck has made three alterations to the side that featured in the aforementioned win against Waasland-Beveren, with Thomas Foket, Benito Raman and Moses Simon all making way for Rafinha, Thomas Matton and Kenny Saief.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: ZENIT 1-0 GENT
It's been a slow and, at times, lacklustre opening 45 minutes, but Zenit arguably deserve to be in front after looking the better of the two sides when going forward. Hulk and Danny have been the best players on the pitch so far, and both played an important role in the hosts' goal, which saw the aforementioned Brazilian use his strength and skill to great effect before setting up Dzyuba. Saief has looked lively at the other end of the pitch but has failed to cause the Russian side's back four too many problems, and Gent will have to try something different if they are to find the back of the net during the second half.
The two teams are making their way back out onto the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: ZENIT 2-1 GENT
In the end, Zenit are just about able to hold onto their slender lead to come away with a second consecutive Champions League victory. In truth, it was a very lethargic performance from the reigning Russian Premier League champions, who were almost single-handedly carried by Hulk. The Brazilian was excellent from start to finish and set up both goals with wonderful passes. If it wasn't for him, the hosts arguably would have struggled to achieve a draw.
Zenit now go on to face Lyon in their next Champions League game, whilst Gent travel to Valencia in three weeks' time.
My name is Ben Cullimore and it's been an absolute pleasure describing all of the action to you this evening. Until next time, goodbye!
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