UEFA Super Cup: Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 Manchester United

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Manchester United were disappointing as they failed to add to their European silverware at the Stade Louis II in Monaco.

Russians Zenit St. Petersburg were the better side and won the game through goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and new signing Danny.

They took the lead just before the interval when Pogrebnyak headed home from close range. They doubled that lead on 59 minutes through a fantastic individual effort from Danny. The Brazilian drove the ball straight through the United defence before slotting coolly past Van Der Sar.

It took two goals in order for Manchester United to respond, but after going two goals down they responded well, and halved Zenit's lead on 73 minutes, when Nemanja Vidic fired the ball through a crowded six-yard area.

United then surged forward time and time again in pursuit of that equalising goal, but it was not to be as Zenit keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev denied United's attack time and time again with a series of good saves.

The Red Devils (well probably just Paul Scholes) were so desperate for an equaliser that they tried the old Maradona trick, when on 90 minutes Paul Scholes guided the ball past Malafeev and into the back of the net, with his hand.

He was inevitably given a yellow card for the offence, and was sent off as he had received another yellow card earlier in the game.

And after going down to 10-men, there was no way for United to find that last minute equaliser, as Zenit held on for a famous victory.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson picked out Carlos Tevez as a highlight of the game, saying: "I thought Tevez was the outstanding player on the pitch, I thought he was fantastic, our best player."

The Argentine was at the heart of the Red Devils best chances, and made the assist for Nemanja Vidic's goal.

Ferguson went on to add: "I thought we had the best chances throughout the match."

"There was one in the first half for Wayne Rooney, and some in the second half when we were 2-0 down. That was when we played probably our best football.

"I think it was an open game, I think both teams did very well. The players have put a good effort in on a warm night and there were a lot of tired players at the end of it."

Zenit St. Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat was especially pleased with the way his side performed, as it was a performance that seemed to fill the Dutchman with immense pride.

"The way we played tonight was superb and we definitely deserved the victory,"

"In fact I am surprised we did not score more goals. We deserved to win by a bigger margin."

Andrei Arshavin was another star performer for Zenit against the Red Devils, and Advocaat believes the forward is staying at Zenit this year.

"The door is closed, the deal is closed.

"Tottenham did not offer the £22million we wanted for him and what we think he is worth. They offered £16million and, with respect, that is not enough so that’s the end of it."

Quotes from www.manutd.com and www.goal.com