Dzyuba powers Zenit to 2-0 over Valencia in Champs League

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - Zenit St. Petersburg secured top spot in Group H by beating Valencia 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Artyom Dzyuba continued his scoring touch with the second goal, his fifth in the group stage. Dzyuba's 74th-minute goal, scored with a simple finish after a lay-off from Hulk following a smart team move, preserved Zenit's perfect record with a fifth win from five games.

Earlier, Oleg Shatov gave Zenit the lead when he lifted the ball over Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech as the defense pleaded in vain for offside.

Valencia defender Ruben Vezo was shown a straight red card in the 80th for slicing down Shatov as the Russian midfielder threatened Valencia's goal.

The Spanish team created few chances under intense pressure from Zenit in midfield. Santi Mina put the ball in Zenit's net midway through the second half but it was ruled out in a close offside decision.

"We started very well with very good intensity and it affected them because they couldn't come out and play their game," Zenit coach Andre Villas-Boas said. "Apart from 10 minutes in the second half, we dominated completely."

Zenit will aim to win all six games in a Champions League group for the first time when it travels next month to Gent in Belgium. The only Russian club ever to manage a clean sweep was Spartak Moscow in the 1995-96 season.

Zenit midfielder Axel Witsel, a Belgian, will, however, be unable to play in his home country after he earned a one-game suspension with his third yellow card of the competition for a lunge on Valencia youngster Danilo.

Valencia dropped to third in Group H, supplanted by Gent after the latter defeated Lyon 2-1. Valencia hosts Lyon in the last rotation next month.