Soccer Super Cup: Manchester United toppled by underdog Zenit

by Yuliya Talmazan | August 29, 2008 at 05:07 pm

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In Monaco today, Manchester United F.C., the winner of the Champions League trophy last season, came face to face with Zenit F.C., which unexpectedly claimed U.E.F.A. cup just a few months ago. A surprising 2:1 win over Manchester United brought a first ever Super Cup for a Russian-based club, which is ironically 6th-seeded in the Russian League. Considering Manchester United is the second best football club in English football history, today's win proves Zenit's U.E.F.A. finals victory over Glasgow Rangers was no accident. Cristiano Ronaldo was missing from Manchester's line-up today due to a recent surgery on his right ankle and was instead watching from the stands, closing his eyes in disappointment as Manchester was crumbling under pressure. On the other end of the pitch, Zenit looked confident with a a top-shape goalie saving hopeless goals. Andrei Arshavin who came through as one of the best players at the European Soccer Championships in June, is looking to stay with Zenit after deals with Tottenham, Barcelona and Arsenal went bust.

Zenit St. Petersburg won the European Super Cup for the first time, upsetting Manchester United 2-1 Friday night on goals by Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny.

Pogrebnyak scored in the 44th minute from close range after Igor Denisov flicked on a corner kick from Alejandro Dominguez. Danny made it 2-0 in the 59th when he drifted past two defenders and beat goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar with a low shot.

Nemanja Vidic scored in the 73rd for United when his shot went past three Zenit players and into the net. Paul Scholes was ejected in the 90th after leaping and slapping the ball into the net.

Manchester United is the defending Champions League winner and Zenit won last season's UEFA Cup.