Fri Aug 29 16:37:49 2008

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Zenit holds off United to claim Super Cup

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Fontvieille, Monaco (Sports Network) - Zenit St. Petersburg got goals from Pavel Pogrebniak and Danny as they upset last season's Champions League winners Manchester United, 2-1 on Friday to win the UEFA Super Cup.

The defending UEFA Cup champions went ahead in the 44th minute through Pogrebniak before Danny handed them a 2-0 lead with 30 minutes to play. Nemanja Vidic got United to within a goal in the 73rd minute, but Paul Scholes was sent off in the 89th when he knocked the ball into the Zenit net with his hand.

Zenit dominated play in the first half, and after two good chances from free kicks, the Russian side went into halftime with a one-goal lead.

Alejandro Dominguez had the first good opportunity in the 24th minute when he came close from a 25-yard free kick. Dominguez then floated another free kick towards the back post from the left wing for Ivica Krizanac, and he turned a shot on goal from close range that struck United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar in the chest.

The breakthrough then came in the 44th minute from a corner kick as Igor Denisov flicked the ball on at the near post for Pogrebniak to nod over the goal line.

United got a few looks at goal early in the second half but some lazy defending by the Red Devils allowed Zenit to take a 2-0 lead in the 59th minute.

Danny picked up the ball 40 yards from goal and carried it towards the box. The United defense failed to close him down and he made his way into the area before cutting the ball back to avoid Rio Ferdinand and fire inside the left post.

United pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when a low corner kick was brought down by Wayne Rooney and lobbed to Carlos Tevez at the back post. The Argentine then laid the ball off for Vidic and he drove it past two Zenit defenders and into the net.

John O'Shea then forced Zenit keeper Viacheslav Malafeev to make a good reaction stop in the final minutes that preserved the win for the Russian club.