Gent edge past Zenit and into knockout stage
Gent have finished Belgium's 15-year nonappearance from the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after a stirring triumph over runaway Group H victors Zenit.
The hosts were given an overwhelming applause as they went into half-time driving through Laurent Depoitre's fine header – reward for a lively execution. Artem Dzyuba leveled yet with Lyon beating Valencia, Gent's opponents for second, it did not matter. Danijel Milicevic's clincher began the festivals decisively 12 minutes from time.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck had talked pre-match about his players' certainty, and that was obvious in the early stages as Gent took the diversion to Zenit. Shock starter Moses Simon was at the fore and it was one of his undermining keeps running down the left that incited the opener.
The 20-year-old keenly postponed his cross, drawing the square then whipping in a ball that Depoitre, settling on accuracy over force, superbly guided into the far corner. A fine time to end his ten-match objective dry spell, however the instability returned not long after when Yuri Lodygin won in an one-on-one.
Zenit, in their last excursion until February, seemed as though they were at that point on vacation – maybe they wanted to be. Danny actuated a restoration of sorts however as news separated through that Valencia were behind, the Gent fans cheered and Nana Asare just about gave them more to observe; Lodygin mediated at point-clear range.
Zenit were quite enhanced in the second period and Dzyuba's brilliant crusade proceeded as he cut in his 6th of the battle – just Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski have scored more. Yet this was Gent's night and Milicevic ensured with an unequivocal strike after all the more great work from.

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