Skip to main content

Zenit see off United to claim Super Cup

  • Story Highlights
  • Zenit St Petersburg defeat Manchester United 2-1 in Monaco to lift Super Cup
  • Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny score the goals to put the Russians in control
  • Nemanja Vidic pulls a goal back for United who have Paul Scholes dismissed
  • Next Article in World Sport »
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

(CNN) -- Zenit St Petersburg beat Manchester United 2-1 in Monaco on Friday to lift the UEFA Super Cup for the first time in their history.

Pogrebnyak celebrates scoring the opening goal as Zenit St Petersburg lifted the Super Cup in Monaco.

Pavel Pogrebnyak gave the UEFA Cup winners a deserved lead in the 44th minute and Portuguese midfielder Danny added a second in the 59th minute as Zenit remained in control of the game.

United, who pulled a goal back through Nemanja Vidic in the 73rd minute, kept searching for an equalizer, but finished the match with 10 men after midfielder Paul Scholes was sent off for punching the ball into the back of the net to earn a second yellow card.

European champions United were anxious to make up for the disappointment of losing to Lazio the last time they appeared in the Super Cup nine years ago, but their Russian opponents, who are midway through their domestic season, always looked stronger in an entertaining match.

Pogrebnyak could have given Zenit an early lead after he peeled away from his marker, but he spooned his shot over the bar. Then, in the 24th minute, Alejandro Dominguez sent a superb free-kick narrowly wide of the post.

Wayne Rooney almost put United ahead in the 35th minute after a surging run from Carlos Tevez, only for the goalkeeper to make a marvellous block.

Zenit hit back immediately and Ivica Krizanac came close after another good free-kick from Dominguez. Danny then headed wide in the 42nd minute before Pogrebnyak made the breakthrough -- heading in at the back post after Igor Denisov had flicked-on a corner from Dominguez to leave United rattled.

The unsettled Andrei Arshavin, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham, came on for Zenit at the start of the second half but Rooney gave them a scare in the 56th minute, getting clear on the edge of area only to see his effort go narrowly wide of the post.

But Zenit stunned United again in the 60th minute by extending their lead with a magnificent effort from Danny. The newly-signed playmaker, who cost $30 million from Dinamo Moscow, ran from deep, shrugged off Rio Ferdinand and cut inside before rifling a shot beyond Edwin Van der Sar.

United were stung but pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when Vidic scored from close-range after Tevez had cut the ball back from the by line.

Substitute John O'Shea almost pulled United level in the 86th minute, only to see his header tipped away by the goalkeeper. Zenit then launched a swift counter-attack and Danny chipped Van der Sar but his effort went over the bar.

United's irritation at playing second fiddle to Zenit was emphasised at the death when Scholes was dismissed and he will now be suspended for the home Champions League match against Villarreal.

  • E-mail
  • Save
  • Print