Kerzhakov leads Zenit stroll
Thursday, 21 October 2004
By Dennis Novitsky at Petrovsky stadium
[1] A hat-trick from Aleksandr Kerzhakov in 20 second-half minutes helped Zenit St. Peterburg cruise to a 5-1 victory against AEK Athens FC in the opening match of UEFA Cup Group H.
Deserved win
[2] Last season's Russian Premier League runners-up recovered from falling a goal behind inside the first five minutes to record the emphatic win, with Andrei Arshavin and Igor Denisov finding the net in addition to Kerzhakov's three goals.
Early goal
[3] The match began in bright fashion and with just three minutes on the clock AEK took the lead. Sotiris Konstantinidis fired in a shot which rebounded off the post and straight to Asimakis Krassas, who scored from close range.
Arshavin levels
[4] Buoyed by the goal, AEK pressed for a second and Viacheslav Malafeev needed to be on top form to stop an effort from Alessandro Soares. But the home side were rewarded for their efforts a minute before half-time, Vladimir Bystrov's cross evading Kerzhakov but eventually falling to Arshavin, who found the corner of the net.
Zenit ahead
[5] No sooner had the second half started than Zenit were ahead, Kerzhakov rounding off a great solo run by beating AEK goalkeeper Chrisostomos Mihailidis thanks to a fortunate rebound. Ten minutes later, Arshavin's shot somehow found its way underneath the AEK goalkeeper and made it 3-1. Kerzhakov then added his second, sliding the ball in from a tight angle.
Kerzhakov third
[6] After a series of near misses, Kerzhakov completed his hat-trick, in the 68th minute, collecting Bystrov's pass and rounding Mihailidis before slotting in.
Late fifth
[7] With the game effectively over, substitute Denisov added a fifth from close range after Olexandr Gorshkov's shot had been saved. Zenit next face LOSC Lille Métropole on 4 November, while AEK do not play again until 25 November, also against Lille.
Zenit's Andrei Arshavin looks for a way past Bruno Alves of AEK