Zenit St Petersburg interim coach Sergei Semak has praised his players' efforts following their 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Russians bowed out 5-4 on aggregate following a first-leg reverse, but Semak was quick to praise their efforts to overturn the deficit.

"It was a huge task for us to come here and score three goals and unfortunately we didn't make it," Semak told reporters.

"I have to congratulate my team on a good performance, the boys did the best they could do."

The second-leg defeat marked Semak's final game in charge, as former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur coach Andre Villas-Boas has now taken over at the club.