TEN-MAN ZENIT ST PETERSBURG scored four extra-time goals to sensationally crush Dinamo Minsk 8-1 (8-5 on aggregate) and overturn what seemed an insurmountable first-leg deficit in the Europa League third qualifying round.
Minsk — who were 3-2 aggregate winners over Derry City in the opening round — had appeared set to cruise through the tie after easing to a 4-0 success on home soil last week.
But two goals in either half from Zenit last night pushed the second leg beyond 90 minutes, before a further four — including two penalties — secured their place in the play-off round in incredible circumstances.
Artem Dzyuba, one of Russia’s World Cup stars, was the chief destroyer with a hat-trick, his first two goals coming in the final 15 minutes of normal time.
Zenit were by then battling a numerical disadvantage after Leandro Paredes, who netted the opener from a floated free-kick, was dismissed for a second bookable offence with 18 minutes remaining.
Christian Noboa was also on target amid a comeback that threatened to be derailed when Seidu Yahaya put Minsk back ahead on aggregate in the 99th minute.
That only set the stage for further twists, with Sebastian Driussi soon bringing scores level and Dzyuba capping his treble from the spot, before Robert Mak added two more in stoppage time to cap off the rollercoaster rout.
The last time a team overturned a four-goal deficit in this competition – previously the Uefa Cup – was in 1985, when Real Madrid came back from 5-1 down against Borussia Monchengladbach to level the scores in the second leg and advance from their last-16 tie on away goals.
Zenit will now meet Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde, 3-0 winners over Hibernian, for a spot in the group stage.
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