Dortmund 1-2 Zenit (agg 5-4): Hulk scores thunderbolt but Klopp's side survive scare and advance to quarter-finals

By Paul Collins

PUBLISHED: 16:35 EST, 19 March 2014 | UPDATED: 03:34 EST, 20 March 2014


Dortmund 1-2 Zenit - MATCH ZONE

Hulk scored a screamer to give Zenit the lead against Dortmund - check out your bumper match stats from the game HERE

Hulk scored from 30 yards against Dortmund

Dortmund are safely through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after eventually seeing off Zenit St Petersburg, though the night was embroiled in battles and blood.

Late on in the game, Zenit midfielder Tomas Hubocan clashed with Robert Lewandowski and was left down on the floor with a large gash.

Also, visiting fans were pictured burning a Germany flag in the stands while their team toiled on the pitch.

With a 4-2 away win in the bank, Borussia held almost all of the cards and played them conservatively to secure their passage even as they lost 2-1 on home soil.

Hulk's 16th-minute wonder strike for Zenit was cancelled out by Sebastian Kehl seven minutes before half-time, and although Zenit substitute Rondon scored a second with 17 minutes to go, there was little threat of them getting back on level terms.

The only significant negative for Jurgen Klopp was a yellow card for star striker Robert Lewandowski, ruling him out of their next match.

VIDEO Scroll down to hear Zenit defender Nicolas Lombaerts speak about AVB's arrival

Down and out: Tomas Hubocan lies on the turf, bloodied, after colliding with Robert Lewandowski

Down and out: Tomas Hubocan lies on the turf, bloodied, after colliding with Robert Lewandowski

Down and out: Tomas Hubocan lies on the turf, bloodied, after colliding with Lewandowski
Down and out: Tomas Hubocan lies on the turf, bloodied, after colliding with Lewandowski

Controversial: Zenit fans burn a Germany flag while watching their team toil on the pitch

Controversial: Zenit fans burn a Germany flag while watching their team toil on the pitch

Match facts

Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Schmelzer (Durm 77), Hummels, Sokratis, Piszczek; Kehl, Sahin; Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan (Jojic 69), Großkreutz; Lewandowski

Subs: Langerak, Friedrich, Kirch, Durm, Hofmann, Jojić, Schieber.

Booked: Lewandowski, Kehl, Jojic

Goal: Kehl 38

Zenit: Malafeev, Criscito, Lombaerts (Neto 46), Hubocan, Anyukov, Shatov, Fayzulin (Smolnikov 84), Witsel, Danny, Hulk, Kerzhakov (Rondon 63).

Subs: Lodygin, Smolnikov, Luković, Zyryanov, Tymoshchuk, Rondón

Booked: Lombaerts

Goal: Hulk 16, Rondon 73

It should have been even easier for Dortmund, but they wasted perhaps the best chance of the night five minutes in when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beat his man to reach a near post cross all alone, only to head inexplicably wide.

Lewandowski then worked space on the edge of the area but failed to get any real power on his low drive.

Zenit had threatened with a decent effort from Axel Witsel, gathered at the second attempt by Roman Weidenfeller, but when their goal came, it came out of nothing as Hulk, with his back to goal 30 yards out, spun away from his man and then hit a fierce shot into the top left-hand corner.

Dortmund were hardly stung into action, allowing Zenit to dominate possession for long periods but doing enough to prevent the Russians from creating any clear openings.

Then, attacking at almost walking pace, Dortmund scored the goal which struck at Zenit hearts, as Kehl broke into the area to connect with Marcel Schmelzer's cross, heading it down into the ground as Viacheslav Malafeev could only help it on its way.
Screamer: Brazilian forward Hulk smashes Zenit into an early lead at Signal Iduna Park

Screamer: Brazilian forward Hulk smashes Zenit into an early lead at Signal Iduna Park

Screamer: Brazilian forward Hulk smashes Zenit into an early lead at Signal Iduna Park

Great start: The strike gave the travelling Russian side hope

Great start: The strike gave the travelling Russian side hope

Leap: Sebastien Kehl leaps to meet the cross and head Dortmund level

Leap: Sebastien Kehl leaps to meet the cross and head Dortmund level

No scare: The midfielder is congratulated by his team-mates

No scare: The midfielder is congratulated by his team-mates

Superman? Jurgen Klopp celebrates his side's goal in 'typical' fashion

Superman? Jurgen Klopp celebrates his side's goal in 'typical' fashion

Composed: Rondon puts Zenit back into the tie with a neat header

Composed: Rondon puts Zenit back into the tie with a neat header

Composed: Rondon puts Zenit back into the tie with a neat header

Congratulations: Klopp greets his players after the final whistle

Congratulations: Klopp greets his players after the final whistle

Moments later, a mix-up in the Zenit defence forced Malafeev to race out and clatter into Lewandowski just outside the area, but although the Dortmund fans appealed loudly, they got no more than a throw-in.

Dortmund shut the game down in the second half as the pace slowed further.

Hulk blazed a free-kick over, but if anything it was Dortmund who looked more likely to score as they began to create chances from set-pieces and Zenit looked increasingly resigned to their fate.

With the play taking place in near slow-motion, Rondon was able to slip past the sleeping Mats Hummels to head in a second for Zenit in the 73rd minute, but other than a late, dangerous cross from Hulk which eluded his team-mates, there was no sign of a rally from the visitors.

Away voice: Zenit fans light a flare inside the stadium

Away voice: Zenit fans light a flare inside the stadium

Protest: As loud as ever, Dortmund fans display banners to show their discontent with the club's bosses

Protest: As loud as ever, Dortmund fans display banners to show their discontent with the club's bosses

Strength: Robert Lewandowski and Axel Witsel battle for possession

Strength: Robert Lewandowski and Axel Witsel battle for possession

Clash: Roman Weidenfeller stops Portuguese midfielder Danny in his tracks

Clash: Roman Weidenfeller stops Portuguese midfielder Danny in his tracks

 

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By the English Fans logic I suppose the Zenit Fans burning the Flag is AVB's Fault? Or is the head injury AVB's Fault aswell? Also I must not forget I suppose if that was an English Fans burning the German flag UEFA would throw you out of Europe wouldn't they

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Dortmund having been for a long part of the season without their entire back four and other long term injuries to the likes of Gundogan,Bender,and now Reus and Blaszczykowski still managed to top their group with Arsenal and Napoli in it and have despite this horrendous injury list still got themselves to the quarter finals where the run of bad luck continues with Lewandowski now suspended. Good luck Dortmund getting to the last 8 has been a great achievement under the circumstances.

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You know what funny thing is? People here all state that burning a flag is wrong but they're using offensive words like 'russian rats' or 'russian rodents'.

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WOW Imagine if any english fans would do this....Zenit Fans are a disgrace.

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Luton and Walsall fans have burnt flags in the past.

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I cannot believe in 4 years time people of all races/religion will be going to Russia for the WC god have mercy

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Zenit has perhaps the most rascist fanbase of all teams. No surprise here.

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they do stuff like this all of the time over there, sorry but in what world is that right? burning a flag! starting a fire in a confined space? there could have been kids there. is this really what we need to put the worlds fans through in 2018. have a word man.

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its a flag it means nothing.

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whether it means anything to you is beside the point, I have a feeling many German's would disagree with you.

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There is a mania possessing the Russians at this point in time.

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will take more than just a couple of generations to ease the hate russians have in their hearts for germans.

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just Germans? I thought they hated everyone

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I have visited Russia many times and have yet to witness the sort of hatred to describe. They are MAJOR trading partners and many Germans visit Russia as tourists and vice versa. Much of the 'hatred' died with the Soviet Union - against which many Russians fought on the side of the Germans. And to respond to 'bali_red' - they do nothing of the sort. You are swallowing the ridiculous propaganda spouted in the West. Putin and the Russians are no saints, but neither are they the monsters they are being portrayed.

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well I guess that's one less thing for Villas Boas to achieve....

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