Army-Men edge Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in UEFA Cup

Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow was the setting for the great battle between CSKA Moskva and Shakhtar Donetsk and without a doubt the match did not disappoint. Although a date to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals is due to the winner of the series, there is no need for introduction of supporters of Football in those respective regions and the match was heavily siding to issues of pride.

Mircea Lucescu's Shaktar side showed intense discipline from the get-go and through cagy midfield play ground the Army-Men attack of Yuri Zhirkov,Alan Dzagoev and Vágner Love. Clearly concerned with the visiting Ukrainian sides attacking vision, CSKA manager Zico deployed a more defensively minded midfield, led by veteran Elvir Rahimić. However those plans and actual action seemed to fall short as the visitors attacked lustily early and squandered a number of close calls including Romanian international Răzvan Raţ early attempt. With the match barely three minutes in, the former Rapid Bucureşti-man forced Igor Akinfeev into action but to the surprise of no-one the great Russian 'keeper did not disappoint. At the half Pavel Mamayev entered CSKA and while not completely to the youngsters doing, CSKA's tinkering at the break worked as they were a completely different eleven after the restart. Showing flourish from the midfield, the hosts went on the attack and four minutes in disaster struck for Shakhtar as the spot was pointed to after Răzvan Raţ brought down Serbian international Miloš Krasić in the area. Demonstrating calm leadership Vágner Love stepped-up and dispatched the ball into the area giving the Army Men the 1-0 lead. The visitors poured forward in attacking wave after wave and while they peppered Igor Akinfeev with high probability chances, he held the line and CSKA Moskva was victorious 1-0.