Stunning Zenit Hit Four In Leverkusen

Zenit gave themselves an absolutely tremendous chance of progression after a masterful counter-attacking performance saw them leave Bayer in a daze...

Andrey Arshavin's beautiful opening goal was cancelled out by a Stephan Kiessling strike, but a brilliant counter-attacking display in the second period saw Pogrebnyak, Anyukov and Denisov sealed a rout for the Russians.

Bayer actually started the better side, with Gresko looking dangerous, but after the ten minute mark Zenit began to stamp their authority on the game.Thus after just 19 minutes, the small number of Zenit fans were sent into raptures with a stunning solo effort from Arshavin.

After Barnetta surrendered the ball on the halfway line, Arshavin strode past Haggui, powered down the right flank, outmuscled Gresko, and then first past Adler into the roof of the net.

At the other end Vidal immediately forced a corner with a low drive, but nothing came of the set piece. Leverkusen's midfield play was largely ponderous as they thought how to fight back, but they were eventually to enjoy a productive spell.

First Barnetta cut inside and had a shot blocked, and then Kiessling equalised.
he 24-year-old was able to fire home through a crowd of legs after Shirokov had cleared Schneider's header off the line following good interplay betwen Barnetta and Gekas.

but this was to be Bayer's sole authoritative spell, and as half time approached, it was clear that Zenit were in the ascendancy.Indeed, it took them just eight minutes after the break to make it 2-1. Again Arshavin was the architect: Timoschuk passed to him out on the left, where he strode up and set up Pogrebnyak, who side-footed home unopposed.

Then came the third. Again it was on the break, but in odd circumstances. Anyukov - completely unopposed - rushed forward to the edge of the box and hit a thirty-yarder that Adler should have dealt with. However, the bobbling flight of the ball foxed the German and rolled into the net. It wasn't the best of finishes, but it was a well-deserved strike for the ever-active right-back.

Just minutes later, Zenit made it 4-1 with an absolutely tremendous goal. Needless to say, it came on the break. From midway into their own half, on the left flank, half the team constructed a brilliant passing move that ultimately saw Denisov go through one-on-one and fire home.

Barnetta and Kiessling both came relatively close, but it was clear that it was a lost cause for the Werkself. Indeed, it could have been 5-1 four minutes from time, but another ball across the face of goal from the left was this time just missed by Denisov.

Denisov then missed an absolute sitter after - guess who - Arshavin once again had the run of the left flank and fired the ball across goal, where the midfielder couldn't quite reach it.

Soon afterwards Denisov was able to drive the ball across goal from the left - albeit in the form of a wayward shot. There was Arshavin again, but he could only hit Adler from the narrow angle.

In the end, though, 4-1 was still a great result, and one that will surely see Zenit advance at the expense of last season's beaten semi-finalists.(source; goal