Moussa Konate struck twice as Sion opened their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 win over Rubin Kazan in Switzerland this evening to go top of Group B.
Konate gave the Swiss the lead after 11 minutes when he slotted home into the corner after Edimilson Fernandes's effort was initially blocked.
The Russians nearly responded on 15 minutes, but Gokdeniz Karadeniz could only fire over from Carlos Eduardo's corner.
Carlitos perhaps should have done better just before the half-hour mark when his right-footed effort sailed over the bar from the edge of the box.
The visitors restored parity on 65 minutes when Maksim Kanunnikov got on the end of Igor Portnyagin's pass before calmly converting.
Sion's Leo Lacroix forced a save from the goalkeeper from Carlitos's cross on 78 minutes, and Konate had his second of the evening soon after.
The striker managed to get on the end of Fernandes's delivery before converting from close range to give his side the points.
Paul Gorst
