KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Gerson Magrao had a goal and an assist as Dynamo Kiev rallied to beat Rubin Kazan 3-1 in the Champions League Group F opener.
Rubin took the lead with a free kick in a dull first half, but Dynamo found its stride to hit three goals in an action-packed second period to send the Ukrainian side to the top of the group standings.
Both sides struggled to create chances in a drab first half until Rubin was awarded a soft-looking free kick on 25 minutes just outside the box.
Alejandro Dominguez stepped up and curled a shot inside the goalkeeper’s right-hand post from 25 meters (yards) out to put the Russian champions ahead on their Champions League debut.
Dynamo’s best chance fell to Milos Ninkovic, who flicked the ball wide when through on goal.
The home side started the second half with more energy, and started to create some half chances, with Andriy Shevchenko putting a volley over on 49 minutes. The pressure paid off in the 70th when Ayila Yussuf headed home off the underside of the bar after a flick-on from Magrao’s corner kick from the right.
Dynamo was now completely in charge and started to put some flowing moves together. Magrao put them ahead in the 79th, slotting a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner from just inside the box after the defense had failed to deal with a cross.
Dynamo coach Valery Gazzayev was delighted with his team’s performance.
“We played well in the first half, but the second half was brilliant. We were more organized and played powerfully,” Gazzayev said.
Rubin struggled to get a shot on goal and after an attack broke down in the 85th Artem Milevskiy burst through the center and the ball ran to Gusev who blasted home.
“We didn’t play badly,” Rubin coach Kurban Berduyev said. “But the first and second halves were completely different games.”
Rubin next hosts Inter Milan while Dynamo will be at Barcelona.
