Dynamo Kiev came from behind to beat Rubin Kazan 3-1 with three second-half goals in Group F.
Ukrainians score three second-half goals to beat minnows
Dynamo Kiev came from behind to beat Russian side Rubin Kazan 3-1 with three second-half goals at the Valeri Lobanovski Stadium.
Goals from Atanda Yussuf, Gerson Magrao and substitute Oleg Gusev cancelled out Kazan's Alejandro Dominguez's superb free-kick inside the opening 45 minutes.
Realistically both of these teams will be battling it out for third spot with Barcelona and Inter Milan making up Group F, meaning three points for both sides from this opening fixture was a must.
Kazan, making their UEFA Champions League bow, seemed to adapt to their surroundings a lot quicker than their more seasoned opponents and deservedly took the lead when Dominguez curled in an exquisite free-kick on 25 minutes.
The hosts upped their game in the second half but had to wait until the 71st before they levelled, however from there on in the Ukrainians were well worth the three points as Kazan eventually buckled under the intense pressure.
Dynamo got off to a strong start as Andriy Yarmolenko had an early shot blocked by Cesar Navas and Yussuf sent a free-kick narrowly wide.
Shocked the hosts
But Rubin Kazan then shocked their hosts with the opening goal after Milos Ninkovic brought down Sergei Semak on the edge of the area and Dominguez lashed the resulting free-kick into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Ninkovic sought to make up for his error moments later but sent his shot, when clear through on goal, wide from the edge of the area.
Kazan began to enjoy themselves and went in search of a second goal in the 33rd minute but Alexander Bukharov saw his shot blocked by Leandro Almeida.
Andriy Shevchenko, one of the most prolific scorers in Champions League history, was struggling to make an impact on his return to the competition, and his 40th-minute header gave Sergei Ryzhikov a routine save.
The former Chelsea man then turned provider, crossing for Yarmolenko but his cross went wide of the left-hand upright from close range.
Ninkovic then blazed over the crossbar and then headed just over too as Dynamo failed to make their supremacy pay in the opening minutes of the second half.
Artem Milevskiy was denied twice from just outside the area as the hour mark approached and Dynamo fans began to fear it would not be their night.
Cristian Ansaldi fired wide for Kazan and then, at the other end, Shevchenko turned a close-range effort over the crossbar from Roman Eremenko's free-kick.
At long last the breakthrough came for Dynamo with 20 minutes to go when Yussuf rose to meet Magrao's corner and send a powerful header into the top of the net.
Smart block
Ryzhikov had to be smart to block an Eremenko shot moments later as Dynamo continued to pour on the pressure, now seeking the winner.
Yussuf thought he had it in the 78th minute, but Ryzhikov made a fine save to push his header around the post.
But it only delayed the inevitable as, moments later, Shevchenko's pass found Magrao and he fired into the roof of the net from the centre of the area.
However Dynamo were not done at that and made sure of the points five minutes from time as Gusev lashed home a right-footed shot to put the result beyond doubt.
| Dinamo Kiev |
Team Statistics |
Rubin Kazan |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
1 |
| 6 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 5 |
Corners |
4 |
| 16 |
Fouls |
21 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 76.9 |
Passing Success |
75 |
| 23 |
Tackles |
32 |
| 82.6 |
Tackles Success |
62.5 |
| 51.4 |
Possession |
48.6 |
| 58 |
Territorial Advantage |
42 |
|
