ZENIT’S GRATEFUL 8

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG thumped Dinamo Minsk 8-1 last night to reach the play-off round – the biggest Europa League comeback in 33 years.

The Russians’ win in 90 minutes overturned a 4-0 deficit from Belarus before they added another four goals in extra time for an 8-5 aggregate success.

Real Madrid were the last side to overturn a four-goal first-leg margin – against Monchengladbach in 1985.

Zenit, who now face Hibs’ conquerors Molde, only led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Leandro Paredes’s goal. Christian Noboa struck in 66 minutes but Zenit suffered a blow soon after when Paredes picked up a second yellow card.

Artem Dzyuba, however, scored in 75 and 78 minutes to force extra time.

Seidu Yahaya struck first in extra time for Minsk but Sebastian Driussi made it 5-1 for Zenit before Dzyuba completed hishat-trick. And Robert Mak added two more, his first from the spot after Maksim Shvetsov was sent off for Minsk.

Burnley also needed extra time to see off Turks Basaksehir – Jack Cork’s goal securing a 1-0 win on aggregate for the Clarets.

AEK Larnaca 5, Sturm Graz 0 (agg: 7-0); Apoel Nicosia 3, H Beer Sheva 1 (agg: 5-3); Atalanta 2, Hapoel Haifa 0 (agg: 6-1); Basel 1, Vitesse 0 (agg: 2-0); Bordeaux 2, Mariupol 1 (agg: 5-2); Braga 2, Zorya 2 (agg: 3-3; Zorya win on away goals); Brondby 2, Spartak Subotica 1 (agg: 4-1); Burnley 1, Basaksehir 0 (aet; agg: 1-0); Cluj 5, Alashkert 0 (agg: 7-0).

Craiova 1, Leipzig 1 (agg: 2-4); Dinamo Brest 1, Limassol 0 (agg: 1-4); Dudelange 2, Legia Warsaw 2 (agg: 4-3); Copenhagen 2, CSKA Sofia 1 (agg: 4-2); Midtjylland 3, TNS 1 (agg: 5-1); Steaua Bucharest 2, Hajduk Split 1 (agg: 2-1); Kukesi 2, Torpedo Kutaisi 0 (agg: 4-5).

Suduva 0, Jurmala 0 (agg: 1-0); Zalgiris 0, Sevilla 5 (agg: 0-6); Feyenoord 1, Trencin 1 (agg: 1-5); Gent 3, Jagiellonia 1 (agg: 4-1); HJK 1, Ljubljana 4 (agg: 1-7); Almaty 1, Sigma Olomouc 2 (agg: 1-4); Linz 2, Besiktas 1 (agg: 2-2, Besiktas win on away goals); Lech Poznan 1, Genk 2 (agg: 1-4); Luzern 1, Olympiakos 3 (agg: 1-7).

Maccabi Tel-Aviv 2, Pyunik 1 (agg: 2-1); Partizan Belgrade 3, Nordsjaelland 2 (agg: 5-3); Rapid Vienna 4, Slovan Bratislava 0 (agg: 5-2); Rijeka 0, Sarpsborg 1 (agg: 1-2); Rosenborg 3, Cork 0 (agg: 5-0); Valur 2, Sheriff 1 (agg: 2-2; Sheriff win on away goals); Zenit 8, Dinamo Minsk 1 (aet; 90mins: 4-0; agg: 8-5); Zrinjski Mostar 1, Ludogorets 1 (agg: 1-2); Progres Niederkorn 2, Ufa 2 (agg: 3-4).

Carabao Cup 1st rd – Sunderland 0, Sheff Wed 2.

FOOTBALL TODAY

Sky Bet Championship – Birmingham v Swansea (7.45). League Two – Notts Co v Yeovil (7.45).