Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg picked up their first points in the UEFA Champions League with a comfortable 3-1 win over Porto.

After an opening win over Shakhtar Donetsk, Porto were halted in the freezing temperatures of Russia tonight, with Zenit overturning an early James Rodriguez goal to take the points.

"I'd like to praise my players for their performance as they played a great match," Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti said. "We were under pressure in the first half and failed to perform our best, but nevertheless our team's spirit and desire to win allowed us to level before the break.

Roman Shirokov levelled matters not long after Porto's ninth-minute opener, but Zenit ran away with things as Shirokov scored once more before Danny added a third after Jorge Fucile was sent off just before half-time.

The full-back was shown a second yellow card after poor control forced him to bring the ball down with his hand after he had already been cautioned for sending Danny to the deck.

I'd like to praise my players for their performance as they played a great match.
Luciano Spalletti, Zenit St Petersburg coach

Porto could not have had a better start, though, with Rodriguez tucking away at the back post after Hulk's quick feet allowed him to work an opening and put in a wicked cross.

However, the lead would last just ten minutes, with Shirokov hammering into an open goal after Helton failed to deal with Danny's cross.

Alvaro Pereira went close to restoring Porto's lead with a shot that Viacheslav Malafeev touched away, but by the time the half-time whistle blew, the Portuguese side had something else to ponder after Fucile's dismissal.

Zenit showed they were intent on making their numerical advantage count after the break, with Alexander Kerzhakov breaking into the box on the end of Shirokov's cross and hitting the post. The same player then got into the area again, but was denied by Helton who bravely fell at his feet.

Shirokov then had a goal chalked off for offside as the traffic went all one way, before he made one count, pulling down Viktor Faitzulin's wayward 63rd-minute free-kick and drilling it across Helton for a stunning goal.

Hulk then went close with a 35-yard free-kick, but two became three 18 minutes from time when Danny was in the right place at the right time to bundle in a Kerzhakov cross.

Shirokov missed two chances to complete his hat-trick in the dying stages, one a glaring miss from two yards, but it mattered little as Zenit eased home.