BRUSSELS, November 7 (R-Sport) - Dieudonne Mbokani's first-half goal was enough to give Anderlecht a 1-0 win over a poor Zenit St. Petersburg side in Brussels on Tuesday and revive the Belgians' Champions League campaign.
The Congolese striker did the damage on 17 minutes with a delightful chip over Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev after a one-two with Sacha Klijestan had split the defense open.
Zenit's Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel came closest for the Russians with a half-volley in the second half that was saved by Silvio Proto in the Anderlecht goal.
With group leaders Malaga and Milan drawing 1-1 in Italy, the result lifts Anderlecht off the bottom of Group C. The Spaniards stay top on 10 points, Milan have five in second, and Anderlecht go to third on four points.
Zenit drop to bottom with their third defeat of the campaign, the 1-0 win over Anderlecht in Russia last month bringing their only points.
Luciano Spalletti's side now need a maximum six points from their last two games at home to Malaga and away to AC Milan to have any hope of qualifying.
The match was an utter disappointment from Zenit's point of view, their worst showing in weeks while Anderlecht looked bright and full of ideas, belying their status as Group C also-rans.
Zenit's Belgian defender Nicolas Lombaerts tested Proto with a skidding early volley that the Anderlecht stopper did well to hold onto.
Sergei Semak should have done better than slice wide when Vladimir Bystrov found him unmarked in the box moments later.
But Anderlecht responded with pressure of their own, Bram Nuytinck heading over before Mbokani struck the opener, the Belgians' first goal of the campaign.
Milan Jovanovic hit a rasping low drive from the left that Malafeev padded around the post at full stretch.
The crowd were jeering Witsel's every touch because Zenit's €40 million signing used to play for bitter Anderlecht rivals Standard Liege.
Looking to sharpen his attack, Zenit coach Spalletti brought Miguel Danny on for Semak in the second half.
There was little evidence of Danny's nine-month injury absence when he nearly waltzed through the entire Anderlecht defense minutes after the restart.
Witsel then came closest for Zenit on 56 minutes, swiveling on the edge of the area to hit a low half-volley that Proto caught on the goalline.
At the other end, Tomas Hubocan used his knee to clear a dangerous cross in desperation with Mbokani poised to double Anderlecht's lead.
As the half wore on, Zenit looked tired and short on ideas, prompting Spalletti to introduce striker Maxim Kanunnikov in place of Bystrov on 77 minutes.
Anderlecht coach John van den Brom responded by replacing the impressive 18-year-old midfielder Dennis Praet with Brazilian front man Kanu to hold the ball up.
The changes seemed to cancel each other out and the pattern continued.
Anderlecht substitute Oleksandr Iakovenko nearly made Zenit pay for Hubocan's errant pass on 82 minutes, rifling a half-volley off the top of Malafeev's crossbar.
The next round is November 21, with Zenit hosting Malaga and AC Milan traveling to Anderlecht.
