Gent become first Belgian side to progress to Champions League knockout stage after 2-1 win against Zenit St Petersburg

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Gent qualified for the last 16 in their first ever Champions League campaign after goals from Laurent Depoitre and Danijel Milicevic gave the Belgian champions a 2-1 victory in Group H.

It is the first time a Belgian club has progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League. 

Gent knew a victory would be enough to go through and the home side attacked from the first minute. 

Gent players celebrate at the final whistle after booking their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League 

Laurent Depoitre (second right) celebrates with his Gent team-mates after putting his side in the lead

The tactic paid dividends in the 18th minute when Depoitre was left free by his marker Nicolas Lombaerts and glanced a high cross from Moses Simon beyond the reach of keeper Yuri Lodygin.

Zenit St Petersburg, who were already through as group winners, got back into the game when Artim Dzyuba slotted home his sixth goal in as many games from close range in the 65th minute.

But Milicevic used his superb shooting skills for the decisive goal 13 minutes later.

In the end, even a defeat would have sufficed for Gent, since Lyon went to Valencia and beat Gent's only challenger 2-0 in Spain.

Zenit won Group H with 15 points, but three wins in a row gave Gent 10 points to finish in the runner up spot. Valencia finished with six and a spot in the Europa League with Lyon finishing last with four.

It was all Gent needed to become the first Belgian team in 15 years to reach the knockout phase of the competition.

Danijel Milicevic put his side back in the lead with a second-half goal with just 12 minutes left to go

Gent players were in high spirits following their 2-1 win over Andre Villas-Boas' Zenit St Petersburg side

'It is a historic win for Gent and Belgium,' Milicevic said. 'We were all waiting for this.'

In front of 20,000 blue-clad home fans, Gent played with confidence, belying their status as the newcomer in the competition.

Zenit showed throughout the game the lacklustre style of a team already assured of top placing in the group, whatever the result.

Now Gent can face one of the world's top sides after the winter break.

'If I can pick and choose, I go for Real Madrid,' Milicevic said. 

Gent finished ahead of Gary Neville's Valencia and Lyon to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League

Here are the 16 sides who have made it through to the next stage of this year's Champions League