Glieder penalties push Pasching on

Two penalties from Edi Glieder helped SV Pasching overturn a one-goal deficit to defeat FC Zenit St. Peterburg and take a commanding lead in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.

False dawn
However, the result could have been very different after Zenit had taken complete control of the game in the early stages. The Russian Premier League leaders had already threatened before taking the lead in the tenth minute, albeit in fortuitous circumstances as Andrei Arshavin's cross was aimed at Aleksandr Kerzhakov but Turkish defender Hakki Tolunay Kafkas intercepted the ball only to see his sliced clearance find his own net.

First-half turnaround
But it was to be a false dawn as the Austrian side gained control almost immediately and began peppering Zenit goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev with shots. Six minutes after falling behind parity was restored, Glieder stepping up to take his first penalty after Martin Horák had handled and confidently slotting the ball into the net. Nine minutes before half-time, Pasching took the lead after Christian Mayrleb raced clear with only Malafeev to beat and kept his head to beat the Russian international goalkeeper with a perfect finish.

Heroic Malafeev
The home team carried on where they left off after the interval as they continued to storm Zenit's goal, and it took an exceptional display from the excellent Malafeev to ensure that the result was not much more emphatic. As it was, Pasching opened up a two-goal cushion with six minutes remaining after Zenit midfield player Velice Šumulikoski fouled the lively Mayrleb and Glieder again stepped up to score, although Zenit still have hopes of a turnaround when the second leg is played in Russia on 26 August.