Lopez error sinks Villarreal

Zenit St Petersburg secured a 1-0 first leg lead against Villarreal in the last 32 of the Uefa Cup.

Goalkeeping clanger costs Spanish side

Zenit St Petersburg caused an upset in the last 32 of the Uefa Cup as they secured a 1-0 first leg lead against Villarreal. A second-half Pavel Pogrebnyak strike was enough to hand Dick Advocaat's side a slender lead ahead of the return leg in Spain on 21st February. Villarreal, who sit third in La Liga, started the better and Nihat Kahveci was the main danger man as the Turkish international went close with a long-range free-kick. However, after the interval Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez was called into action to deny Kim Dong Jin. Lopez, though, was then at fault on 63 minutes as Pogrebnyak pounced on a mistake to hit the only goal of the game. The shot-stopper came out to clear Andrei Arshavin's through-ball and missed his kick to allow Pogrebnyak the simple task of rolling in from close range.