Russia’s Anzhi took control of their Europa League third qualifying round tie with Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem on Thursday as goals from youngsters Oleg Shatov and Fyodor Smolov gave the hosts a 2-0 first-leg lead.
Shatov opened the scoring on 63 minutes, picking up the ball on the right flank before cutting inside across the edge of the box and firing a low shot into the corner of Piet Velthuizen’s goal.
Smolov, on loan from Dynamo Moscow, added the second 11 minutes later when he picked up Samuel Eto’o’s pass and rounded Velthuizen before shooting from a very narrow angle, the ball flying into the net through a tiny gap between the post and head of defender Frank van der Struijk.
Vitesse had few clear chances to score, the best coming when van der Struijk headed the ball against the post from a corner on 36 minutes.
Anzhi could have had another goal with 20 minutes left when midfielder Ali Gadhibekov latched onto a pass from Eto’o and burst into the penalty area, only to be stopped by a crunching but fair tackle.
Anzhi coach Guus Hiddink was given some injury worries early in the game when holding midfielder Jucilei went off with a thigh injury on 14 minutes and fellow midfielder Odil Ahmedov was hurt five minutes later.
The Caucasus-based club were already without striker Lacina Traore, who was taken off injured in Anzhi’s 2-2 Russian league draw with FC Rostov on Sunday.
The match was played in Ramenskoye near Moscow after UEFA banned Anzhi from playing in their home city of Makhachkala due to security concerns.
The second leg will be played in Arnhem next Thursday.
