It was no surprise, therefore, when Vidic reduced the deficit from Tevez's pull-back after good work in the box by Rooney - and it preceded a last 20 minutes that saw United pile forward and Zenit attempt to pick holes in the Reds' defence on the break. It sparked a spell of pressure from United that had long been overdue, and with United's game finally clicking into gear, Zenit struggled to cope.
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Tevez, a rare bright spark for United, continued to play the workhorse role up front, though, and moments after the Argentine's industry had almost set Rooney free in the box, he drilled a fine effort over. However, it was the diminutive Russian's potential replacement - Danny - who lit up the second half, the £25m signing from Dinamo Moscow dancing through the United defence and finishing with aplomb to make it 2-0 on the hour. Zenit goalscorers Pogrebnyak, right, and Danny celebrate in MonacoĪs if United were not struggling already, Arshavin was introduced at the break and his trickery immediately had the English champions on the back foot. Rio Ferdinand then had to be alert to deflect a Danny cross narrowly past the post, while at the other end a weak Carlos Tevez shot on 19 minutes was the best United could muster.įerguson's side finally showed something like their best attacking play when Tevez forced an opening down the right wing, but Wayne Rooney dallied too long on his shot and the chance came and went.Īnd minutes after Ivica Krizanac had forced Edwin van der Sar into an instinctive save from close range, Zenit's pressure finally told when Pogrebnyak forced the ball over the line after Igor Denisov had flicked on Dominguez's corner seconds before half-time. Konstantin Zyryanov and Aleksandr Anyukov were a constant threat and they forged the first clear openings of the match when twice they combined to get behind the United defence, only for Pogrebnyak to spoon over when well positioned on both occasions.
Zenit impressed with an attractive counter-attacking style en route to Uefa Cup glory last season and the same style had United on the back foot throughout, particularly down the Russian side's right, where Patrice Evra had a torrid time in the opening half. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said before the match that the traditional showpiece between the Champions League winners and the Uefa Cup champions was a game to be enjoyed, but there was little for the Scot to savour from the first 45 minutes. United's strikers, however, are yet to find the net after three matches of the new season, with Darren Fletcher scoring their only goals in both of the opening two Premier League fixtures.
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