Champions Zenit out of UEFA Cup

Defending champions Zenit St. Petersburg were knocked out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday as Udinese kept Italy’s European hopes alive.

Zenit beat Udinese 1-0 in the second leg of their last 16 tie, but the Serie A side made sure of their place in Friday’s quarter-final draw courtesy of their 2-0 lead from the first leg.

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk gave Zenit the lead in the 34th minute when he headed in an Ivica Krizanac cross past Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

In the end, Udinese, the only Italian side left in European competition this season, were on top and only a string of fine saves by Vyacheslav Malafeev kept Zenit in the tie.

Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk became the first Ukrainian sides to reach the last eight.

Dynamo lost 3-2 to fellow Ukrainians Metalist Kharkiv on the night but progressed on away goals having won the opening leg 1-0.

Metalist were ahead on the half-hour through Valentyn Sliusar with Jaja making it 2-0 on the night after 56 minutes.

Goran Sabljic found the net on 68 minutes for Kiev to edge his side ahead on the away goals rule before Walter Anibal Acevedo, two minutes later, swiftly made it 3-1 on the night for Metalist.

But an own goal from Andriy Berezovchuk eleven minutes from time broke Metalist hearts and sent Kiev into the quarter-finals.

Shakhtar saw off 2005 champions CSKA Moscow 2-0 on the night after trailing 1-0 from the first meeting and they were indebted to their Brazilian imports for victory with Fernandinho levelling the tie from the penalty spot in the 54th minute and Luiz Adriano adding the second after 70 minutes.