Sergei Ignashevich Strike Keeps The Army Men Marching On

CSKA Moscow 1-1 PAOK (Agg 2-1): Sergei Ignashevich Strike Keeps The Army Men Marching On Sergei Ignashevich's pounced on to Vagner Love's missed penalty to save his own goalkeeper's blushes on a freezing night in Moscow...

By Andrew McLean 

PAOK came agonisingly close to overcoming Russian giants CSKA Moscow in the freezing cold Luzhniki stadium, drawing 1-1 on the night but losing the tie on aggregate 2-1.

Both sides had their chances in the first-half but failed to capitalise, however the game turned with the injury to the hosts' goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Mid-way through the second period replacement Sergei Chepchugov fired a clearance off Zlatan Muslimovic and into his own net to pull the Greeks level. However their hopes of a memorable victory were dashed when Sergei Ignashevich tapped home Vagner Love's saved penalty.

Just 20 seconds into the game and Love was presented with a chance inside the Greek's area but the Brazilian, on his first competitive match of the year, rushed his shot wide of the right post.

Love was proving to be the man in the right place at the right time again for the hosts after some nice work from Zoran Tosic on the right found the hitman but Dario Kresic was quickly off his line to deny him.

Moments later and it was the former Manchester United wideman that opened up the Greek's again. Tosic was aware of a late run from Love and cut back inside from the flank to delay his pass; it was weighted to perfection for the Brazilian but Bruno Cirillo covered and just did enough to prevent the pull-back arriving at Tomas Necid.

After half-an-hour played CSKA seemed happy to go into half-time still ahead overall in the tie and were casually strolling passes across a frozen looking artificial surface. They should have been made to pay when a number of half-hearted tackles won by the visitors dropped to Muslimovic in the box but he smashed the ball off the outside of the post with Akinfeev stranded.

PAOK were keeping the pressure on the Moscovites and their persistence almost paid off just before the break. A corner half cleared by Necid dropped to Cirillo, who caught his acrobatic volley sweetly leaving Akinfeev helpless with his vision blocked, but watched the ball skim the post.

Leonid Slutsky's men created one final chance of their own before the referee brought an end to the first forty-five minutes. Necid dribbled his way through a wall of legs only to be tumbled over by the last man, while the Czech was appealing for a penalty, Love couldn't stretch a boot out to convert the loose ball before the 'keeper arrived.

PAOK were quickly out the blocks in the second period, catching the Russians far too stationary at the back when Muslimovic's near post flick hit the side-netting. It was just the wake-up call the Krasno-Sine needed as Tosic and Necid both went close in quick succession.

CSKA coach Slutsky had a worrying moment in the 60th minute, as goalkeeper Akinfeev was left clutching his knee following a tackle from Dimitris Salpingidis and the Russian international was unable to continue.

Reserve goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov had been on the pitch only two minutes when he took a short goal-kick and received a slightly short pass back from Beretzutsky, but with the simple option of knocking the ball off to the left, Chepchugov smashed it into the onrushing Muslimovic and the ball rolled into the vacant net to level the tie.

The Greeks should have doubled their lead on the night in the 75th minute. A nice move released Ivic into the penalty area with support and he stayed composed to feed Salpingidis but he could only angle the ball wide one-on-one with the nervy Chepchugov.

CSKA brought some relief to their 'keeper with ten minutes remaining. A nice through ball by substitute Evgeny Aldonin sent Tosic clear and the Serbian winger was sent flying by Kresic in the area.

The PAOK glovesmen escaped with a yellow card and picked himself up to save the penalty from Love but, as it rolled across the line and off the post, Sergei Ignashevich was on hand to tuck the ball in.

Six minutes of added time were played following injuries, substitutions and delays but the Greeks couldn't find the crucial second.