Zenit St Petersburg romped to a surprise UEFA Super Cup victory over European champion Manchester United at Monaco's Stade Louis II on Friday.
Pavel Pogrebnyak opened the scoring and Danny, who cost an astonishing 24 million pounds, extended the UEFA Cup winners' lead before Nemanja Vidic pulled a goal back.
United's misery was completed late on when Paul Scholes was sent off for a second bookable offence after committing a deliberate handball in the area with United looking to draw level.
While there will be bigger prizes to win than the Super Cup and more competitive games, it is clear the Champions League holders are thin on numbers in attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo helped lighten their load in spectacular fashion last season with 42 goals. But he is sidelined through injury and United, not surprisingly, misses his cunning and eye for goal.
Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez worked hard but could not break down the Russian side, who sealed a memorable victory.
Sir Alex Ferguson had spoken on the eve of the match of his admiration for managerial counterpart Dick Advocaat - and United found itself chasing the game.
Former Rangers boss Advocaat has won widespread acclaim for the way he has transformed Zenit and turned it into winners.
The Russians chalked up a notable double last season securing the UEFA Cup and their domestic title.
It was obvious from the start their confidence was high and they took the game to United.
United was anxious to make up for the disappointment of losing to Lazio the last time it appeared in the Super Cup nine years ago.
Rooney almost put United ahead in the 35th minute after a surging run by Tevez only for the goalkeeper to make a marvellous block.
Zenit's Danny then headed wide in the 42nd minute before Pogrebnyak made the breakthrough. He headed in at the back post after Igor Denisov had flicked on a corner from Dominguez to leave United rattled.
Zenit stunned United again in the 60th minute by extending its lead with a magnificent effort from Danny.
He ran from deep, shrugged off Rio Ferdinand and cut inside before rifling a shot beyond Edwin Van der Sar.
United was stung but pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when Vidic scored from close range after Tevez had cut the ball back from the by line.
Substitute John O'Shea almost pulled United level in the 86th minute, only to see his header tipped away by the goalkeeper.
United's irritation at playing second fiddle to Zenit was emphasised at the death with Scholes dismissed for palming the ball into the net and he will now be suspended for the home Champions League game against Villarreal.
Zenit St Petersburg 2 (Pogrebnyak 44, Danny 59)
Manchester United 1 (Vidic 73)