It took an own-goal in the second half for AC Milan to come out on top against Zenit St Petersburg in Group C. The early kick-off time means Allegri's men go top of the group momentarily, whilst Zenit remain pointless.

Milan got off to a stroming start albeit with a stroke of luck for the opening goal. Urby Emanuelson's costless-kick from the edge of the box defelected past Malafeev, before El Shaarawy netted Milan's second moments later.

Zenit responded yet could not find a way past Abbiati in the Milan goal. The break-through came on the stroke of half-time as Hulk latched on to a through ball and finished powerfully.

The home side were level minutes after the break when Shirokov headed-in a Hulk corner from close range. 

The match remained in stalemate until 15 minutes from time when a low cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Hubocan. Christian Abbiati made sure all three points were heading back to Milan as he denied Anyukov from long-range.

Milan were not convincing in victory and were helped along by lady luck against Zenit. Certainly in their opening goal this was apparent, as Urby Emanuelson's costless-kick completed wrong-footed Malafeev in the Zenit goal before finding the corner. 

There was nothing lucky about Milan's second though. El Shaarawy continued his fine goal-scoring form by grabbing Milan's second with a neat finish on the stretch after a magnificent run from deep.

Zenit didn't spark into life until 25 minutes into the match. Abbiati was forced to save from Montolivo's glancing header towards his own goal before denying Hulk from range and saving instinctively from a Shirokov header.

Abbiati's best save of the half, and the match, came from a powerfully low-struck Hulk costless-kick. The Milan captain got down fast and was strong enough to prevent Zenit's big-money signing from pulling a goal back. It proved to be nothing more than a delay however, as Hulk finally got the better of Abbiati with a powerful finish on the stroke of half-time.

Zenit took the momentum of scoring before half-time into the first stages of the second-half and were level just five minutes after the restart. Roman Shirokov evaded Riccardo Montilivo on a corner and had a simple header from close range to make it 2-2. 

The match entered a lull before Milan found the winning goal. A low cross was mistakenly missed by Giampaolo Pazzini and then unluckily deflected off the trailing leg of Tomas Hubocan past Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Zenit struggled to apply the same amount of pressure as they did when they went 2-0 down, yet still had a strong claim for a penalty when Hulk was pushed inside the area by Abate.

Christian Abbiati proved himself to be in inspired form once more before the full-time whistle, diving low to his right to deny Anyukov's long-range effort that looked destined for the bottom corner. His celebration after the save told the story.

The victory eases pressure on Allegri and AC Milan, who are faultering in mid-table in Serie A. The Rossoneri go top of Group C for the momentum, depending on the result between Anderlecht and Malaga. Zenit remain pointless.

Milan travel to Malaga in their next Champions League tie, whilst Zenit host Anderlecht in a must-win tie for the Russian side.