Brazil forward Hulk hit a magnificent goal for Zenit Saint Petersburg against Sevilla in their Europa League quarter-final second leg, but it wasn’t enough to see the Russian side through.
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Andre Villas-Boas’s side welcomed Los Rojiblancos to the Petrovsky Stadium looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.
While things started dreadfully for the Blue-White-Sky Blues, when they conceded an early penalty, they responded well in the second half when Beto fumbled a high ball allowing Salomon Rondon to nip in to score.
Zenit pushed, but the goal that would have drawn the tie level wasn’t forthcoming. That was, of course, until Hulk stepped up.
Finding the ball wide on the right, the Brazilian turned to face goal. The Sevilla midfield and defence naturally hesitated, expecting the former FC Porto man to set off on one of his barrelling runs.
However, they taken by surprise when Hulk, recalling Beto’s previous uncertainty, sent a magnificent 40-yard effort hurtling towards goal.
The keeper stumbled backwards but his poor positioning and the power of the shot allowed Zenit to make it 3-3 on aggregate.
Salomon Rondon tapped in from close-range, but replays demonstrate that Hulk’s initial strike crossed the line.
It was a magnificent effort, but unfortunately for AVB and his side, it came in vain, as Kevin Gameiro won it for Unai Emery’s outfit late on.