Champions League Group G wrap: Porto well beaten, APOEL go top

Zenit St Petersburg defeated 10-man FC Porto 3-1 in their Champions League Group G clash, while Shakhtar Donetsk drew at home on Wednesday.

Midfielder Roman Shirokov scored a brace in Zenit’s win, while Portuguese international Danny also found the back of the net for the victors.

However, it was Liga Sagres champions Porto that took the early advantage at Stadion Petrovskij, when striker Hulk cut a ball back inside for James Rodriguez to fire the visitors ahead on 10 minutes.

The Russian Premier League club made it 1-1 in the 20th minute, with Shirokov’s first goal coming from Porto goalkeeper Helton’s parried save.

Porto were hit with a massive blow when striker Kleber was substituted midway through the first half, and manager Vitor Pereira had no strike options on the bench with which to replace the injured Brazilian.

Adding to Porto’s woes was the sending off of Uruguayan full-back Jorge Fucile in first-half injury time, and Zenit took full advantage in the second half to dominate proceedings from there on, scoring twice.

A Viktor Fayzulin free-kick into a dangerous area saw Shirokov fire Zenit ahead in the 63rd minute, before former Sporting Lisbon midfielder Danny tapped in Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s cross nine minutes later.

APOEL Nicosia went top of the group after holding Shakhtar Donetsk to a 1-1 stalemate in Ukraine.

It was the Cypriot side that struck first at the Donbass Arena, when Macedonian striker Ivan Trickovski netted in the 61st minute.

Donetsk replied within three minutes through Brazilian midfielder Jadson to earn their first point of the group stages, avoiding what would have been an embarrassing defeat.