Zenit St Petersburg edge past 10-man Porto

Zenit St Petersburg have beaten 10-man Porto 1-0 in their Champions League fixture this evening.

The home side were reduced to 10 men just six minutes into the game after Hector Herrera picked up two yellow cards in quick succession.

© Getty Images

Lucho Gonzalez came close to putting the visitors into the lead when his powerful volley came back off the post, with Lica unable to convert from the rebound.

Zenit came close again late in the first half when Danny and Hulk combined to find Roman Shirokov, who fired wide with Helton left rooted to the spot.

At the start of the second half Porto brought on Silvestre Varela who almost made an immediate impact when he flashed a shot wide of the post.

Hulk should have put the visitors into the lead in the 58th minute. The Brazilian dispossessed Nicolas Otamendi and found himself with just Helton to beat, but the keeper saved with his feet.

© Getty Images

He came close to scoring again midway through the half with a long-range free kick that Helton managed to save despite a deflection.

Porto then came within inches of taking the lead, as Varela saw his free kick come crashing off the bar.

The away team finally made their numerical advantage count with just four minutes remaining, when Aleksandr Kerzhakov headed home Hulk's cross from close range to claim three vital points.