Dortmund beats Zenit 2-0 for first Champions League win

Posted October 28, 2020 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Dortmund's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool) The Associated Press

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) - Borussia Dortmund got its misfiring Champions League campaign into gear on Wednesday as it beat a defensive Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 in heavy rain thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland.

Dortmund was looking to bounce back from last week's 3-1 loss at Lazio but struggled to break through Zenit's compact defense until Vyacheslav Karavaev gave away a penalty converted by Sancho.

Haaland added a second on the counter in stoppage time for the Norwegian's 12th goal in 10 career Champions League games. Haaland was set free behind the Zenit defensive line by a header from 17-year-old Jude Bellingham and sent a precise shot between goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov's legs.

'œThat's football and we knew the chances would come,'ť Haaland told broadcaster Sky. 'œYou saw we had the ball a lot and we had to be patient and not to rush things.'ť

Dortmund is third in Group F, a point behind Lazio and surprise challenger Brugge, who drew 1-1 on Wednesday. Dortmund has two games against Brugge next. Zenit is last after losing its opening game to Brugge, and already close to extending its five-year run without qualifying for the knockout stages.

Haaland came close to scoring when he rifled a low shot wide in the 42nd minute off a through-ball from Sancho. Gio Reyna and Mahmoud Dahoud had their own narrow misses from speculative long-range shots, while Zenit goalkeeper Kerzhakov stopped an effort from Marco Reus which may have been off target.

Zenit's defensive tactics - likened to parking 'œtwo buses'ť by Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc - left the German team looking somewhat toothless. That all changed when a cross came in for substitute Thorgan Hazard and Karavaev opted to wrestle the Belgian away from the ball. Sancho stepped up to take the 79th-minute penalty, sending Kerzhakov the wrong way.

Zenit created few chances and showed little ambition, even after Dortmund had taken the lead. A first-half aerial challenge by Sebastian Driussi on goalkeeper Roman BÃ¼rki was one of the few highlights, but ended with the ball flying harmlessly over the bar.

Dortmund has won three of its last four games without conceding a goal, with the defeat to Lazio the exception. That recent form has helped stabilize the team after a 3-2 German Super Cup loss to Bayern Munich and a Bundesliga defeat to Augsburg.

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Dortmund's Erling Haaland scores his side's second goal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool) The Associated Press

CORRECTS NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER - Dortmund's Jadon Sancho celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool) The Associated Press

Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, second left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League group F soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool) The Associated Press

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