CSKA Moscow completed its perfect run of four victories in the group stage of the UEFA Cup defeating Ligue 1 side AS Nancy-Lorraine 4-3 with Vágner Love accounting for three goals. While the match in northern France was plagued with torrential rain, both sides showed a resolve to attack. Veteran Monsef Zerka gave the home side an improbable lead only five minutes in beating Russian international 'keeper Igor Akinfeev to the inside post. After narrowly missing a header off Yuri Zhirkov's cross a few minutes later, Vágner Love's stunning three-goal effort started as he leveled the match at the twenty-third minute with a powerhouse drive from just over twenty meters. Three minutes past the half-hour mark Koni took the lead as Ramón received Yuri Zhirkov's perfect pass, to which the former Corinthians-man drove to the back of the net. The Vágner Love show continued just past the hour as he collected Turkish capped Caner Erkin's pass and made it 3-1. In a highly uncharacteristic display, CSKA started their holidays, stopped defending and gave up two late goals. Julien Féret brought Nancy within one with eighteen minutes remaining as he accepted a well weighted through ball from Monsef Zerka before tucking the ball in. Up and comer Basile Camerling threw the home fans into delirium as he equalized the match with eleven minutes but once again Vágner Love came to the rescue. With two minutes remaining he gave CSKA the remarkable victory with another blazing strike from twenty-two meters.CSKA begins its holiday now with the domestic league complete. They will return in February in the next round with a number of possible lineup changes.
