CSKA Moscow vs. Man City: Score, Grades and Reaction from Champions League Game

Manchester City relinquished a two-goal lead as their UEFA Champions League woes continued with a 2-2 draw at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday at the Arena Khimki.

City could have been out of sight by half-time after dominating the opening 45 minutes, but the visitors could only claim two goals through Sergio Aguero and James Milner. CSKA pulled one back through substitute Seydou Doumbia in the 64th minute and equalised controversially via Bibras Natcho's penalty four minutes from time.

The match was officially closed to fans as part of UEFA's punishment of CSKA Moscow for racist behaviour on the part of some of the club's supporters. As multiple journalists noted on Twitter, however, the stadium was not quite empty.

Manchester City entered Tuesday's match fully aware of its importance. Having collected only one point from their first two matches in Group E, City trailed Roma by three points and Bayern Munich by five at kick-off. Such a gap made a positive result crucial, as midfielder James Milner told Manchester City's official website.

"It's important we win both games against CSKA," Milner said. "We haven't performed as well as we wanted to in the first two group games, but it’'s still in our hands, and we know we are capable of beating anyone, so we have to make sure we do that starting by winning our next two games."

Tuesday's draw leaves City in third place with two points through three games. CSKA are fourth with a single point. 

The same two teams meet again on Nov. 5 at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. Pending Tuesday's other Group E match between Roma and Bayern, that game could have enormous significance for Manuel Pellegrini's side.

It was little surprise that City dominated possession in the early stages. CSKA, however, posed a threat on the counter and created the game's first chance in the seventh minute. City defender Eliaquim Mangala headed an attempted clearance directly into the path of Ahmed Musa, who hit a drive just wide of the top corner from outside the box.

Three minutes later, Zoran Tosic tried his luck from distance as well, screwing his shot wide of the far post from even farther out. At the other end, Pablo Zabaleta volleyed off target after chesting down a Yaya Toure cross in the 13th minute. 

City continued to dominate territorially, and the opening goal duly followed in the 29th minute. David Silva started the scoring sequence by lifting a through ball over the top for Edin Dzeko to run on. Upon reaching the box, Dzeko saw CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev rushing off his line and decided to square for Aguero, who tapped into the empty net.

It was 2-0 in the 38th minute following another fine team move. Toure initiated the move this time, picking out Zabaleta's run down the right with a lofted cross. Zabaleta headed back for Aguero, who sent a cross-shot into the face of goal. The ball rolled past Akinfeev and appeared to be heading wide, but Milner slid in to finish at the back post.

Milner then hit the outside of the post one minute later, following up at the back post again after Aleksandar Kolarov crossed from the left. Dzeko had his heels clipped moments earlier as he tried to sweep in, but the referee declined to blow his whistle for a penalty kick.

Another big chance came just before half-time as City continued to shred CSKA's defence. Kolarov supplied the chance again, rolling another ball into the goalmouth. Aguero was the target this time, but the ball rolled just past the sliding Argentine.

CSKA enjoyed a greater amount of possession after the break but took nearly 20 minutes to make an impression in the attacking third. In the 63rd minute, Roman Eremenko lifted a half-volley onto the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

It was a warning sign for City, and one minute later, CSKA pulled a goal back.

Natcho started the move with a fine pass played through to Musa on the right. Musa squared back into the middle past goalkeeper Joe Hart for Doumbia, who had entered the match as a substitute at half-time. Holding off Zabaleta's last-gasp challenge, Doumbia slotted into the empty net to cut City's lead in half.

With City beginning to look ragged, Pellegrini made a pair of changes to reinforce his side. Winger Jesus Navas replaced Dzeko in the 72nd minute, with holding midfielder Fernandinho coming on for Silva, a playmaker, six minutes later.

The changes didn't create the desired effect, though. In the 85th minute, CSKA won a penalty, albeit under controversial circumstances. Georgy Schennikov crossed from the left for Doumbia, who collapsed theatrically under Kolarov's challenge. Referee Istvan Vad showed no hesitation in blowing his whistle and pointing to the penalty spot.

One minute later, after City's protests had quieted down, Natcho dispatched his high shot past Hart for the equaliser.

It was perhaps a harsh decision against City, but after playing so well for the first 45 minutes, the visitors had only themselves to blame for allowing CSKA back into the match after half-time. 

Grades

Reaction