Bayer Leverkusen entered the day with a narrow two-point lead over Zenit St. Petersburg in UEFA Champions League Group C, but they’ll feel confident about qualifying for the knockout stage of the competition after they recorded a 2-1 win away in Russia. Son Heung-Min was their hero, scoring both goals.
Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Final score 1-2, Son Heung-Min grabs a brace
The Bundesliga side now has nine points, and sits five above Zenit.
Oleg Nikishin
The first big chance of the game came entirely by accident, in the 13th minute. Hulk tried to whip in an in-swinging free kick from 30 yards, but curled the ball over and around everyone. It rocketed towards the far post and ricochet away, shocking Bernd Leno, as well as all of his teammates.
Leno had to come up big in the 21st minute on the best chance of the first half that anyone actually intended to make. Danny found Alexander Kerzhakov with a through ball, but Leno came off his line and made a fine kick save to preserve his team’s clean sheet.
While Bayer Leverkusen were very much in the game from the early going, they struggled to create clear chances until deep in the second half, when they finally came up with a goal on a set piece. Karim Bellarabi set it up with a layoff to Son, who placed a stunner into the back of the net from 30 yards.
That goal meant Zenit had to push more numbers forward, opening up space for Bayer to counter into, and they took advantage by scoring a second goal just seven minutes after their first. They were torn up by Stefan Kießling and Son, who completed his brace and doubled Bayer’s lead by faking out Yuri Lodygin and passing into the goal.
Zenit responded by introducing Solomon Rondon, who rewarded Andre Villas-Boas with an instant response. He ran onto a beautiful chipped pass by fellow substitute Alexander Ryazantsev and finished past Leno in the 89th minute, setting up a nervy finish.
The hosts got plenty of balls and bodies into the box in the dying minutes, but couldn’t find another goal, and Bayer held on for the points.
Zenit: Lodygin, Criscito, Lombaerts, Garay, Anyukov, Witsel, Garcia, Shatov (Arshavin 87’), Danny (Ryazantsev 79’), Hulk, Kerzhakov (Rondon 79’)
Goals: Rondon (89’)
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno, Jedvaj (Boenisch 65’), Toprak, Spahic, Donati, Bender, Son, Brandt (Drmic 53’), Calhanoglu, Bellarabi, Kießling (Kruse 90’)
Goals: Son (67’, 75’)
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