Europa League: Zenit beat AEK to top Group G

(GSM) – Zenit St. Petersburg are the new leaders in UEFA Europa League Group G following a 4-2 win over AEK, while Hajduk Split got their first points in a 1-0 win over Anderlecht.

Zenit needed less than a minute against Greek side AEK, for Tomas Hubocan to put the Russians in the lead. Another 12 minutes later, Bruno Alves made it 2-0.

Nikos Liberopoulos pulled one back for the visitors in the 37th minute but had their hope crushed a few minutes later as Cristian Nasuti was red-carded and Zenit’s Danko Lazovic converted a penalty kick for 3-1.

The Serbian forward then added a fourth goal close to the hour mark, and a converted spot kick from Pantelis Kafes in the 83rd minute was too little, too late for the Greeks.

Hajduk Split and Anderlecht both lost their opening games in this group, making a win all the more vital on Thursday.

The game in Croatia was headed for a goalless result until Ante Vukusic broke the deadlock in the 90th minute to hand Split three valuable points.