Gent's Laurent Depoitre, center, jubilates with other teammates after scoring a goal during the Champions League Group H soccer match between Gent and FC Zenit at the Ghelamco Arena in Ghent, Belgium, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Associated Press
GHENT, Belgium (AP) - Gent qualified for the last 16 in its first ever Champions League campaign on Wednesday after goals from Laurent Depoitre and Danijel Milicevic gave the Belgian champion a 2-1 victory in Group H over already-qualified Zenit St. Petersburg.
Gent knew a victory would be enough to go through and the home side attacked from the kickoff. The tactic paid dividends in the 18th minute when Depoitre was left free by his marker Nicolas Lombaerts and glanced a high cross from Moses Simon beyond the reach of keeper Yuri Lodygin.
St. Petersburg got back into the game when Artim Dzyuba slotted home his sixth goal in as many games from close range in the 65th minute.
But Milicevic used his superb shooting skills for the decisive goal 13 minutes later.
Fans chant and wave flags prior to a Champions League Group H soccer match between Gent and FC Zenit at the Ghelamco Arena in Ghent, Belgium on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Associated Press
Zenit's Artyom Dzyuba jubilates after scoring a goal during the Champions League Group H soccer match between Gent and FC Zenit at the Ghelamco Arena in Ghent, Belgium, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Associated Press
Gent's Lasse Nielsen, right, is challenged by Zenit's Artyom Dzyuba during the Champions League Group H soccer match between Gent and FC Zenit at the Ghelamco Arena in Ghent, Belgium, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Associated Press