Dortmund beats Zenit 2-0 for first Champions League win

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.

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 Jon Sancho.

Erling Haaland ded a second on counter in stopp time for rwegian's 12th goal in 10 career Champions League games.

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 alrey close to extending its five-year run without qualifying for kckout sts.

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

Zenit's defensive tactics, and an apparent reluctance from Dortmund to play in wide areas, left German team looking somewhat toothless. That all changed when a cross came in for substitute Thorgan Hazard and Karavaev opted to wrestle Belgian away from ball. Sancho stepped up to take 79th-minute penalty, sending Kerzhakov wrong way.

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

Im credits: AP