This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
Manchester City forced to settle for point after late CSKA Moscow penalty
Manchester City forced to settle for point after late CSKA Moscow penalty
(about 1 hour later)
The 86th-minute penalty from Bebras Natcho that earned CSKA Moscow a point that left Manchester City’s hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages in the balance and Manuel Pellegrini’s side were left to pray that Bayern Munich would defeat Roma later on to leave the Italians on four points, only two ahead of City and the destiny of the English champions still in their own hands.
The Bebras Natcho 86th-minute penalty that gave CSKA Moscow a draw leaves Manchester City’s Champions League hopes dangling by a thread.
Even then Vincent Kompany and his team will face the toughest of challenges if they are to progress to the knockout stage. At the close the captain led a delegation of players who complained to Istvan Vad, the referee. This was presumably about the dubious spot-kick he awarded when Aleksandar Kolarov was adjudged to have fouled Seydou Doumbia and from which Natcho scored the equaliser.
Now on two points, Manuel Pellegrini’s side would have been delighted with Bayern Munich’s win over Roma later in the evening to give them a chance of qualifying for the knockout phase.
Yet they might also have been querying the number of home “fans” allowed into the Arena Khimki on a cold night that ended with CSKA and Uefa facing questions regarding how closely the club’s stadium ban for supporters had been followed. In the seats above the two dugouts a contingent of no less than 150 and possibly as many as 350 people had gathered and they cheered CSKA throughout.
Even then Vincent Kompany and his team face the toughest of challenges if they are to progress. At the close the captain led a delegation of players who complained to Istvan Vad, the referee. This was presumably about the dubious spot-kick he awarded when Aleksandar Kolarov was adjudged to have fouled Seydou Doumbia and from which Natcho scored the equaliser.
Uefa allocates 300 tickets for their official sponsors. Sources from the governing body confirmed that precisely where and to whom these go is beyond its control, with employees of the sponsors perhaps being home supporters.
Yet they might also have been querying the number of home “fans” allowed into the Arena Khimki on a cold night that ended with CSKA and Uefa facing questions regarding how closely the club’s stadium ban on spectators had been followed. In the seats above the dugouts a contingent of as many as 350 had gathered and cheered the Russian side throughout. Chants of “CSKA, CSKA” were heard and they had company outside the Arena as loud singing and chanting could be heard.
There were also strong rumours that some of the tickets had been sold to fans, which appeared likely given the contingent’s vociferous support and their appearance, with many draped in the Russian champions’ colours. Chants of “CSKA, CSKA” were heard throughout and these “fans” had company outside as loud singing and chanting could be heard.
What unfolded was a relatively open contest in which CSKA attacked with pace while City were more methodical, hoping to pick off their opponents after advancing slowly at Igor Akinfeev’s goal.
What unfolded was a relatively open contest in which CSKA attacked with pace while City were initially more methodical, hoping to pick off their opponents after advancing slowing at Igor Akinfeev’s goal.
Beforehand Pablo Zabaleta had warned of the speed of Ahmed Musa, CSKA’s lone striker, and the Nigerian offered illustrations of how City might be got at. His pre-match chat had claimed Pellegrini’s team were “very weak” in defence and he set about proving this. One burst took him through on Joe Hart but the No18’s touch deserted him and Eliaquim Mangala conceded a corner. An earlier Musa shot was applauded loudly, as was a clever run to the right that pulled City out of position before Kompany cleaned up for his side. Zoran Tosic, once of Manchester United, also found Musa, who turned the ball in to a lurking Georgi Milanov but he was unable to collect.
Beforehand Pablo Zabaleta had warned of the speed of Ahmed Musa, CSKA’s lone striker, and he offered early illustrations of how City might be got at. The Nigerian’s pre-match chat had claimed Pellegrini’s team were “very weak” in defence. And he set about proving this.
Despite the probing stuff that had Yaya Touré or David Silva in a quarter-back role trying to slide in James Milner, Edin Dzeko or Sergio Agüero, when City opened the scoring it was from a slick break.
One burst took him through on Joe Hart but the No18’s touch deserted him and Eliaquim Mangala conceded a corner. An earlier Musa shot was cheered loudly, as was a clever run to the right that pulled City out of position before Kompany cleaned up for his side.
Silva had been identified along with Agüero as City’s main threat by Leonid Slutsky, the CSKA manager, and it was the Spaniard who slipped the ball through deftly for Dzeko to beat the offside trap.
Zoran Tosic, once of Manchester United, also found Musa who turned the ball in at a lurking Georgi Milanov but he was unable to collect.
The forward raced at Akinfeev then rolled the ball right to bypass the home goalkeeper and give the lethal Agüero a simple tap-in for an 11th in 11 appearances this term: the ratio of a supreme striker.
Despite the probing stuff that had Yaya Touré or David Silva in a quarter-back role trying to slide in James Milner, Edin Dzeko or Sergio Agüero, when the English champions finally opened the scoring it was from a slick break.
As light snow began falling, the thought arose that if City secured another goal they might coast through the evening. And less than 10 minutes later they secured it. Touré crossed the ball for Pablo Zabaleta to head down and after Agüero aimed at Afinkeev, Milner slid it home. Seconds later the referee turned down what appeared a good penalty shout when Dzeko was felled by Sergei Ignashevic in the area.
Silva had been identified along with Agüero as City’s main threat by Leonid Slutsky, the CSKA manager, and it was the Spaniard who slipped the ball through deftly to Dzeko and he beat the offside trap. The forward raced at Akinfeev then rolled the ball right to bypass the home goalkeeper and give the lethal Agüero a simple tap-in for an 11th goal in 11 appearances this term.
City’s concentration was about to lapse badly during the second half. As has been the case for much of this season, going forward they are formidable, but at the back they creak.
As light snow began falling a sense formed that if City secured another goal they could coast through the evening. Less than 10 minutes later they secured it. Touré crossed the ball for Zabaleta to head down and after Agüero aimed at Afinkeev, Milner slid the ball home.
Roman Ermenko offered a warning when unloading a shot that was only barely over Hart’s crossbar. Kompany miscontrolled in his area to force Zabaleta into clean-up mode. And, then, CSKA pulled one back.
Seconds later the referee turned down what appeared a good penalty shout when Dzeko was felled by Sergei Ignashevic in the area. City were in control though concentration would lapse badly during the second half. As has been the case this season going forward, City are formidable but at the back they can still creak.
The Russians easily penetrated the visiting defence as Musa predicted they might, with the 22-year-old finding a pass from which the half-time substitute Doumbia finished.
Roman Ermenko offered one warning when unloading a shot that was only barely over Hart’s crossbar. Kompany produced a miscontrol in his area that forced Zabaleta into desperate defending. And then CSKA pulled one back.
Could City go up a gear again to restore the two-goal cushion? Pellegrini’s first adjustment of the XI suggested he wished to do so as on came the speed of Jesús Navas for Dzeko’s more lumbering threat.
And it was the 22-year-old Musawho snapped in a delivery that found the haf-time substitute Doumbia and he finished.
Yet the defence continued to concern. Kompany is not enjoying the best campaign so far. He gave away a free-kick from which Natcho knocked in a ball that was unlucky to find Hart rather than produce a convincing shot. Then Ermenko found space along the right and fired the ball into the area, but again there was no finish.
Could City go up a gear again to restore the two-goal cushion? Pellegrini’s first tinker of the XI suggested he wished to do so as on came the speed of Jesus Navas for Dzeko.
Pellegrini then decided to go the other way, substituting Silva with the defensive qualities of Fernandinho but given the ending, this appeared a tactical blunder.
Yet the defence continued to concern. Kompany is not enjoying the best campaign so far. The captain gave away a clumsy free-kick from which Natcho knocked in a ball that was unlucky to find Hart’s hands. Then Ermenko found space along the right and fired the ball into the six-yard area but again there was no finish.
There had been rumours that some media passes – of which there were officially 150 – had been sold on to fans and as the match entered the closing minutes some of the press seats were occupied by people wearing CSKA scarves.
Pellegrini then decided to go the other way, replacing Silva with the defensive qualities of Fernandinho but given the ending this appeared a tactical blunder.
Then disaster struck for City. Kolarov was fooled by Doumbia and up stepped Natcho to leave City’s hopes very much in the balance.
There had been other rumours that some media passes – of which there were officially 150 – had been sold and as the contest entered the closing minutes some of the press seats were occupied by people wearing CSKA scarves who were cheering the team.
And then disaster struck. Kolarov was fooled by Doumbia and up stepped Natcho to leave City’s hopes dangling by a thread.
