Zenit St Petersburg made it two wins from two by seeing off Gent
Oleg Shatov's second-half goal earned Zenit St Petersburg a 2-1 Champions League victory over Gent at the Petrovsky Stadium on Tuesday night to strengthen their position at the top of Group H.
Zenit began strongly in front of their home fans, but had to wait until the 35th minute to take the lead through Artem Dzyuba's close-range header.
Thomas Matton's fine 56th-minute volley drew Gent level before Shatov's cool finish 11 minutes later sealed all three points for the hosts.
Back-to-back wins from their first two games means the Russians sit top of their group on six points - three points clear of second-placed side Valencia - while Gent, who drew 1-1 at home against Lyon on matchday one despite being reduced to nine men, slumped to bottom of the table along with the Ligue 1 side.
Zenit began their group-stage campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win at Valencia and midfielder Axel Witsel, who scored the winner at the Mestalla, wasted a glorious chance to give the hosts a fifth-minute lead when he diverted Hulk's low cross over the crossbar.
Gent goalkeeper Matz Sels made a late penalty save to deny Lyon victory last time out and had to be alert four minutes later to keep out Danny's goal-bound effort from Hulk's out-swinging corner.
At the other end, Gent midfielder Kenny Saief very nearly turned Nana Akwasi Asare's left-wing cross into Mikhail Kerzhakov's net.
Zenit took the lead after 35 minutes when Hulk, who bagged a brace against Valencia but very nearly missed this match with a hip injury, swept a pin-point cross from the left into the area and Dzyuba guided his close-range header past Sels and into the net.
Gent had avoided defeat in their first 11 games of the season and their resilience paid off 11 minutes into the second half as midfielder Matton unleashed a low left-footed volley to draw them level.
Dzyuba thought he had won Zenit a penalty moments later when he appeared to be pushed as he tried to head Hulk's cross beyond Sels, but referee Matej Jug turned down the home side's spot-kick appeals.
Zenit were not to be denied a short while later, however, as Hulk went on another one of his trademark runs before sending Shatov clear on goal with a delightful through-ball and the Russia international secured victory by coolly lifting over the onrushing Sels and into the empty goal.
Zenit 2 Gent 1: Shatov strike makes it two from two for Russians
Andre Villas-Boas' Zenit made it two wins from two in Group H as Oleg Shatov's goal sealed a 2-1 victory over Gent.
Oleg Shatov's goal secured a second consecutive Group H win for Zenit as they overcame Gent 2-1 on Tuesday.
Shatov was on hand to finish a neat move involving the impressive Hulk midway through the second half, leaving Zenit in pole position to qualify for the last 16.
A confident start from the hosts was rewarded when Artem Dzyuba headed home just before the break, only for Thomas Matton to fire in a second-half equaliser for the hardworking visitors.
But Zenit were not to be denied and Shatov had the final say, preserving Zenit's 100 per cent start in the group.
The result leaves Gent with an uphill struggle in their bid to become the first Belgian side to reach the knockout phases, having also seen an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end.
In contrast, the result is likely to ease criticism of Zenit boss Andre Villas-Boas, who has come under fire in recent weeks following a dismal run that has seen his side without a league win in their last four attempts.
Debutant goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov was the only change made by Villas-Boas, but it was opposite number Matz Sels who was first tested, tipping Ezequiel Garay's bending 25-yard free-kick round the post after five minutes.
Axel Witsel fired over from the resulting corner, while Dzyuba placed a close-range volley wide 12 minutes later as Zenit sought an early advantage.
Gent responded and would have taken the lead in the 22nd minute had Aleksandr Anyukov not snuffed out Nana Asare's low cross at the far post to deny the onrushing Kenny Saief.
But despite enjoying plenty of possession, the visitors otherwise struggled to trouble the Zenit defence and were punished 10 minutes before the break.
A powerful run down the left allowed Hulk to expertly shake off the attentions of Rafinha inside the area, before calmly chipping an inviting ball onto the head of Dzyuba, who made no mistake with a well-placed close-range header.
However, Zenit could not build on that breakthrough and Gent, who looked reinvigorated after the break, found themselves level in the 56 minutes when Matton was on hand to lash home a teasing Sven Kums cross.
That goal galvanised the home side and a superb 67th-minute throughball from Hulk allowed Shatov to race clear into the area, before finishing with a measured chip over the despairing Sels.
Renato Neto nearly levelled again for Hein Vanhaezebrouck's men, but could only send Asare's deflected delivery just wide.
Shatov then came close to doubling his tally 12 minutes from time, after once again linking up well with Hulk, who also forced an acrobatic save from Sels late on, but a one-goal cushion proved to be enough to seal the win.
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