Aston Villa 1 CSKA Moscow 1:THERE WILL Be an artificial pitch and freezing temperatures for Aston Villa to contend with at the Luzhniki Stadium a week today but John Carew's second-half equaliser means that Martin O'Neill's side will at least travel to Moscow with hope.
The outcome was far from ideal, with Vagner Love’s splendid early goal giving CSKA Moscow what could prove to be a precious away goal, but there are few sides more dangerous than Villa away from home.
The panic in the visitors’ defence during a frenzied second half suggests there are weaknesses to exploit in Russia. Whether the watching Guus Hiddink and Roman Abramovich feel the same way about Villa ahead of Saturday’s pivotal meeting here is unclear, but O’Neill will certainly be relieved to go into that game without a second successive defeat.
In truth, this had the look of an awkward fixture for Villa long before CSKA’s opening goal. The Russian side had won all four group games to reach this stage and the appointment of Zico as their manager, allied to a winter break, meant the visitors arrived with a spring in their step. Villa, playing their 41st game of a gruelling campaign, were nothing like as fresh. There was also the not-so-small matter of Chelsea’s visit to distract minds.
CSKA were in a mood to capitalise. That much was obvious in the 14th minute when Love linked beautifully with Alan Dzagoev to put the Russian club ahead. Having spun away from Craig Gardner, the striker’s slick interchange with Dzagoev left Zat Knight on the seat of his pants and his pace took him away from Luke Young before he coolly planted a left-footed shot wide of Brad Guzan.
The second period demanded an improvement and Villa did not disappoint as they attacked with renewed vigour. Once again it was the influential Ashley Young who provided the ammunition, the winger’s corner kick picking out Gardner. The midfielder, pushed further forward on the right in the absence of James Milner, climbed above Georgy Shchennikov at the far post but his header clipped the top of the crossbar.
CSKA were left to lament Berezutski 67th-minute chance which he sliced wide. Two minutes later Ashley Young’s cross fizzed across the six-yard box to the far side of the area where it was collected by Gardner. It would have been easy for the midfielder to return the ball from where it came, but instead he had the presence of mind to execute an acute cut-back that Carew swept past Igor Akinfeev. Relief coursed around Villa Park but a testing 90 minutes lies ahead.
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Guzan; L Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey; Gardner, Petrov, Barry, A Young; Carew, Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Friedel, Harewood, Delfouneso, Salifou, Albrighton, Bannan, Lowry.
CSKA MOSCOW (4-4-1-1): Akinfeev; A Berezutski, Ignashevic, V Berezutski, Shchennikov; Krasic, Rahmic, Aldonin (Mamaev, 90), Zhirkov (Caner, 90); Dzagoev (Carvalho, 80); Vagner Love. Subs not used: Pomazan, Ramon, Da Silva, Odiah.
Referee: P Rasmussen (Denmark)
