Hulk gave Zenit St Petersburg the advantage over PSV Eindhoven as his second-half strike saw them take a 1-0 win in the Europa League round of 32 first-leg tie in Eindhoven.
The Brazil international found himself in space in the middle of the area in the 64th minute to fire in a simple goal which gave Andre Villas-Boas' side the upper had ahead of the return leg in Russia.
The victory saw Zenit's 100 per cent record in UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League round of 32 ties continue in the first time the two teams had met in the competition.
It is the sixth time that the Russians have been in the round of 32 and they look on course to advance to the last 16 for the seventh time with a valuable away goal.
The first half was a cagey affair and PSV's Jetro Williams had the first real shot on goal in the 16th minute but he sent his effort wide from 20 yards out.
Zenit midfielder Oleg Shatov forced a save from PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet five minute later from a similar distance before Memphis Depay fired over from distance at the other end.
With just over five minutes remaining in the first half, Igor Smolnikov came the closest to breaking the deadlock when his shot from the right edge of the area hit the post.
Hulk then went close early in the second half when his 20-yard strike was tipped around the post by Zoet.
The imposing striker finally made the breakthrough in the 64th minute when he fired Danny's cross from the left wing into the back of the net from the middle of the area.
Shatov went close again in the 81st minute with Zoet making another good save to deny Zenit their second goal.
PSV's best chance of the half came when Willems' free-kick fell to Andres Guardado, who fired over the bar from just outside of the area.
Depay then sent another strike the same way from 25 yards as the home side turned to desperate measures with little time left on the clock.
Another save by Zoet kept Shatov at bay as Zenit looked to impose themselves further in the tie with Depay's shot for PSV creeping wide deep into stoppage time.
It was the last effort of the match, with Zenit leaving the Dutch city firmly with the advantage.