Valencia endured great frustration in their Champions League opener on Wednesday, losing 3-2 to Zenit despite clawing back a 2-0 deficit.
A late Axel Witsel effort left Valencia’s determined fightback in vain as the Belgian secured a 3-2 Champions League win for Zenit at the Mestalla on Wednesday.
After falling 2-0 down before the break thanks to a brilliant Hulk double, Valencia battled back in the second period and restored parity, only for Witsel to leave the hosts ruing their defensive naivety in their Group H opener.
The hosts endured their first taste of frustration after just two minutes, as Joao Cancelo saw his attempt come back off the post and Hulk capitalised shortly after with a neat finish.
A trademark Hulk screamer just before the break doubled the visitors’ lead, but Witsel inadvertently diverted a Cancelo cross past his own goalkeeper early in the second period to give Valencia encouragement.
Andre Villas-Boas’ men were forced to withstand intense pressure after that goal and half-time substitute Andre Gomes netted a deserved equaliser for Valencia in the 73rd minute.
But Zenit had the last laugh, as Witsel fired a low drive inside the post from distance just three minutes later, leaving Valencia despondent upon their return to Europe’s elite competition.
Fresh from clinching their first win of the season against Sporting Gijon at the weekend, Valencia looked full of confidence early on, with Sofiane Feghouli finding joy against left-back Domenico Criscito.
Valencia’s first chance unsurprisingly came down that very same flank, but it was right-back Cancelo who went close, sending a low 25-yard effort against the post in the second minute.
Zenit had no such misfortune seven minutes later, though, as Danny led a breakaway and fed Hulk into the left side of the area, with the Brazilian duly applying a powerful finish across Jaume Domenech to open the scoring.
