CSKA Moscow 1 Real Madrid 1:PONTUS WERNBLOOM made Real Madrid pay for a string of misses as CSKA Moscow pinched an improbable draw at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Wernbloom scored in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of the match, cancelling out Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half strike for Madrid. There was a certain symmetry in how the equalising goal went in, as twins Vasili and Aleksei Berezutski were both involved in the build-up, having both been at fault for the opening goal.
Alan Dzagoev provided a cross from the right, Vasili Berezutski headed the ball towards the back post and his brother nodded across goal for Swedish midfielder Wernbloom to lunge in and score.
CSKA had barely posed a serious threat all match, but they will head into the March 14th return leg in Spain on level terms.
It was the Russians who had the first noteworthy effort, as Dzagoev’s athletic volley went wide of the left post. From there, Madrid took charge. Gonzalo Higuain, on early as a substitute for the injured Karim Benzema, almost scored with a curling strike from the edge of the area, but Sergei Chepchugov was equal to it, and he surpassed that save when he touched over Sami Khedira’s fierce shot.
Ronaldo opened the scoring after 28 minutes when hapless defending, first in giving the ball away and then when defending the cross that followed, presented him with the opening.
Fabio Coentrao crossed, Vasili Berezutski could not clear the danger and twin Aleksei managed only to tip the ball with his head to Ronaldo, 12 yards out beyond the far post. The gift was happily accepted by Ronaldo, who powered a low shot to the net.
Mesut Ozil drew a save from Chepchugov before half-time arrived with Madrid in charge.
The visitors poured pressure on the home defence in the second half, aiming to kill off the game. Ronaldo hoisted one shot too high as he looked for a second goal, then missed a one-on-one with Chepchugov, and finally shot wide when the ball broke to him kindly on the edge of the penalty area.
CSKA rarely threatened but in the third minute of injury time they managed to force the goal they scarcely deserved.
CSKA MOSCOW:Chepchugov, Alexei Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky, Shchennikov, Wernbloom, Aldonin (Honda 68), Musa (Oliseh 64), Tosic (Necid 82), Dzagoev, Doumbia. Subs not used: Revyakin, Semberas, Rahimic, Kim. Booked: Wernbloom.
REAL MADRID:Casillas, Fabio Coentrao, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Arbeloa, Alonso, Khedira, Ronaldo, Ozil (Albiol 84), Callejon (Kaka 75), Benzema (Higuain 15). Subs not used: Adan, Carvalho, Granero, Marcelo. Booked: Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao.
Referee:Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands).
