UEFA Champions League: CSKA Hold Real Madrid

An injury-time goal on his debut by Pontus Wernbloom grabbed CSKA Moscow a 1-1 draw with Spanish giants Real Madrid Tuesday in their UEFA Champions League Last 16 first leg tie in Moscow.

A goal from Real’s Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the 28th minute put the nine-time European champions ahead and they looked set for their seventh successive win in this season’s competition until Wernbloom blasted the ball home.

The hosts, supported by a 63,000 home crowd, started in lively fashion probing for weaknesses in the Real’s vital area and they created the first chance in the seventh minute. However, Alan Dzagoev’s shot from eight metres went wide and was the hosts’ only opportunity in the first-half.
Real replied with a long-range shot by Karim Benzema, which also went wide, forcing Jose Mourinho into an early substitution as the Frenchman pulled a muscle and was replaced by Gonzalo Higuain in the 16th minute.

CSKA keeper Sergei Chepchugov pulled off a great double save a minute later as first he beat away an Higuain effort and was able to get back up and deflect for a corner from Sami Khedira’s follow-up.

However, he was unable to prevent Ronaldo from opening the scoring, as he drilled home from inside the area after Zoran Tosic failed to clear Fabio Coentrao’s cross from the left. CSKA, who have never lost to a Spanish team before in European competition, poured forward seeking an equaliser, but the visitors’ defence was solid and repelled the hosts attacks.

After the interval CSKA continued testing Real’s defence, but they failed again to create any serious threat to Iker Casillas, lacking accuracy in the decisive moments.

Meanwhile Real, who were relying on rapid and dangerous counter-attacks, missed a host of chances to increase their lead before the hour mark. CSKA, who were lacking match practice as the Russian league is on its winter break, nevertheless showed strong character trying hard to pull the scores level. Real, however, looked comfortable.

In the 82nd minute the hosts missed a chance to level as Casillas produced a diving save to prevent CSKA midfielder Keisuke Honda’s free-kick ending up in the net. But in the third minute of injury time, Wernbloom had the CSKA fans on their feet as he sent the ball into the net from six yards, converting Alexei Berezutsky’s headed cross from the left.

Reported by Tunde Oyedele