Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund traveled to Russia and came back with a massive 4-2 win in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie with Zenit Saint Petersburg on Tuesday.
Dortmund struck twice through Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marco Reus in the first five minutes to stun Zenit, but the Russian team fought back in the second half as Oleg Shatov pulled a goal back to make it 2-1. But less than five minutes later Robert Lewandowski punished some slack marking to make it 3-1, however a penalty kick from Hulk in the 68th minute made it 3-2 in an enthralling contest at the Petrovosky stadium.
However just when you thought Zenit were about to clinch an unlikely draw to take with them to Germany next month, Lewandowski popped up to make it 4-2 and clinch a crucial away win for last season’s Champions League finalists. The win means that out of five UCL last 16 games played so far, the away side has won on every occasion.
In the third minute Dortmund went ahead as Reus ran past Zenit defender Lombaerts in the box and instead of going down the German international squared the ball to Mkhitaryan who slotted home to make it 1-0.
Then just 70 seconds later Dortmund went 2-0 up as Italian left back Domenico Criscito was caught of position and Reus punished him with a low strike into the bottom corner to stun the home crowd. With the Russian league on a winter break, Zenit have been without a competitive game since December and that showed early on with some lackluster defending.
Zenit’s Axel Witsel, right, is blocked by Borussia’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan, center, and Nuri Sahin, left, during the Champions League soccer match between Zenit St.Petersburg and Borussia Dortmund at Petrovsky stadium in St.Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Dmitry Lovetsky
That trend continued throughout the first half as in the 18th minute Robert Lewnadowski raced clear but saw his shot saved by Lodygin as Dortmund threatened to increase their lead before the break. In the 29th minute Reus worked some room on the edge of the box and clipped a right footed shot just wide of the far post.
Zenit did rally and steadied the ship slightly after that disastrous start which saw them go 2-0 down within the opening five minutes, but Dortmund went in 2-0 up at the interval without having to force the issue at all.
After the break Zenit, predictably, improved as Brazilian striker Hulk tried twice to get in behind with clever runs across the defense. In the 56th minute Zenit were back in the game as Hulk’s run opened up the chance for Rondo to shoot twice and his second effort cannoned off the post but fell straight to Shatov who hammed the ball home to make it 2-1.
But less than five minutes later Dortmund regained their two-goal advantage as Lewandowski played a great one-two with Tomasz Piszczek and the Polish international swept home to make it 3-1 to the away side.
However just when Zenit looked to be down and out, they were handed a lifeline as Viktor Faizulin was brought down in the box and Hulk smashed in the penalty kick to make it 3-2 in the 68th minute. But just two minutes later Zenit switched off again as Tymoshchuk gave the ball away and Lewandowski was played in to hammer home his second and Dortmund’s fourth to make it 4-2.
The rest of the game played out with Zenit trying to get back into the match, but Dortmund held firm and now take a 4-2 advantage into their second-leg at the Westfalenstadion in March.
LINEUPS
Zenit Saint Petersburg: Lodygin; Criscito, Lombaerts, Luis Neto, Anyukov (Smolnikov, 82) Fayzulin (Kerzhakov, 84), Witsel; Arshavin (Tymoshchuk, 15), Shatov, Hulk; Rondon
Goal: Shatov (56'), Hulk (68')
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Sokratis, Friedrich, Schmelzer; Kehl, Sahin; Grosskreutz (Durm, 90), Mkhitaryan (Aubameyang, 70), Reus (Hofmann, 85); Lewandowski
Goals: Mkhitaryan (3'), Reus (4'), Lewandowski (61' & 71')
