Zenit St Petersburg 0-0 APOEL: Cypriot side creates history by securing progression to Champions League knockout stages
In a clash delayed due to the Russian side's fans letting off flares in the stands, it was the visitors who held firm amidst the smoke to qualify from Group G
By Paul Macdonald
Getty
APOEL has made history by becoming the first Cypriot side to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League after a battling 0-0 draw versus Zenit St Petersburg in Group G.
The visitors survived a flurry of home pressure, particularly in the second half as the Russian side created chances through Danny and Alexander Bukharov, but held firm to reach the knockout stages, while still remaining unbeaten in its section.
APOEL required just a point to secure progression, but it was the Russians who commenced the match with intent. The first opportunity of the contest fell to burly striker Bukharov, but he could not keep his header on target.
Zenit then survived an injury scare to talisman Danny, whose knee injury appeared to resurface, but he was able to continue, and crucially to dictate the pace of the match. On 25 minutes, Bukharov was fed in on the right channel but he delayed his finish, and his scrambled cutback eventually found Roman Shirokov, who could only direct his effort against the defender on the line.
Luciano Spalletti's side was in charge, aware that victory would be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages, but its tidy interplay was not being converted into tangible scoring chances.
At the start of the second half, a flare from the stands produced a fog that enveloped the pitch, and referee Felix Brych took the decision to suspend the match, ushering both sets of players back down the tunnel.
After a 10 minute recess, the play resumed, and Bukharov came as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock. He met a cross from the right with a thumping header that crashed back from the crossbar, but with goalkeeper Ukra Pardo prostrate in his goalmouth, the same player contrived to volley wide of the empty target.
Zenit was pushing, and Bukharov was again within inches of scoring, but his toe-poked effort was hooked from under the bar by Nuno Morais, then moments later Danny's measured shot was palmed over by Pardo.
The away side was now desperately clinging on to the point it needed to progress, with Zenit conversely desperate to ensure its own passage to the last 16 before the final matchday.
But the match ended goalless, leading to scenes of celebration on the APOEL dugout, which could celebrate being unquestionably the surprise package of this season's competition. Zenit remains one point ahead of Porto after the Portuguese side defeated Shakhtar later Wednesday. The two sides meet Dec. 6 in the final group match at the Estadio do Dragao.
The visitors survived a flurry of home pressure, particularly in the second half as the Russian side created chances through Danny and Alexander Bukharov, but held firm to reach the knockout stages, while still remaining unbeaten in its section.
APOEL required just a point to secure progression, but it was the Russians who commenced the match with intent. The first opportunity of the contest fell to burly striker Bukharov, but he could not keep his header on target.
Zenit then survived an injury scare to talisman Danny, whose knee injury appeared to resurface, but he was able to continue, and crucially to dictate the pace of the match. On 25 minutes, Bukharov was fed in on the right channel but he delayed his finish, and his scrambled cutback eventually found Roman Shirokov, who could only direct his effort against the defender on the line.
Luciano Spalletti's side was in charge, aware that victory would be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages, but its tidy interplay was not being converted into tangible scoring chances.
At the start of the second half, a flare from the stands produced a fog that enveloped the pitch, and referee Felix Brych took the decision to suspend the match, ushering both sets of players back down the tunnel.
After a 10 minute recess, the play resumed, and Bukharov came as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock. He met a cross from the right with a thumping header that crashed back from the crossbar, but with goalkeeper Ukra Pardo prostrate in his goalmouth, the same player contrived to volley wide of the empty target.
Zenit was pushing, and Bukharov was again within inches of scoring, but his toe-poked effort was hooked from under the bar by Nuno Morais, then moments later Danny's measured shot was palmed over by Pardo.
The away side was now desperately clinging on to the point it needed to progress, with Zenit conversely desperate to ensure its own passage to the last 16 before the final matchday.
But the match ended goalless, leading to scenes of celebration on the APOEL dugout, which could celebrate being unquestionably the surprise package of this season's competition. Zenit remains one point ahead of Porto after the Portuguese side defeated Shakhtar later Wednesday. The two sides meet Dec. 6 in the final group match at the Estadio do Dragao.
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