JOIN USWernbloom strike helps CSKA hold Real
A last-minute strike by CSKA Moscow newcomer Pontus Wernbloom snatched a 1-1 draw for the Russian side against Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 first-leg match on Tuesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo had given the visiting Spaniards a deserved 1-0 lead after 28 minutes, taking full advantage of a CSKA defensive mix-up and beating nervous-looking goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov with a low volley into the far corner.
It was Ronaldo's 17th goal in his 23rd Champions League game for Real and 32nd in total in Europe's premier club competition. The Portugal striker missed a chance to double the lead shortly after the restart, but this time Chepchugov, making his Champions League debut, averted the danger.
Ronaldo had another opportunity late in the game but fired just wide of the post with a low shot from the edge of the box. The nine-time European champions dominated for most of the match despite playing in sub-zero temperatures on Luzhniki's unfamiliar artificial pitch but paid dearly for their misses when Sweden midfielder Wernbloom equalised in the last minute of added time following a disputed free kick.
The home side sorely missed their first-choice keeper Igor Akinfeyev, still recovering following knee surgery. Chepchugov made a fine double save early on, first stopping Gonzalo Higuain, who had just replaced injured Karim Benzema, then denying Sami Khedira from close range seconds later.
The visitors lost France forward Benzema just 15 minutes into the game after he appeared to pull a muscle while taking his first shot on goal. CSKA's Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia was kept off the ball for most of the match by Real's tight defence. The Russians struggled to create much of the offence until Wernbloom, who joined CSKA in January, beat Iker Casillas from 10 metres following a goalmouth scramble with virtually the last kick of the game.
Lavezzi sparkles
Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani combined to spark Napoli's 3-1 comeback win over Chelsea that deepened the gloom hanging over the London club.
The South American pair made the difference in a match where the visitors had taken the lead through Juan Mata before squandering two more chances.
Lavezzi scored Napoli's first and third goals, the first of the competition for the Argentine and both laid on by Cavani who notched the other himself.
Napoli were quickly on the attack and goalkeeper Petr Cech twice prevented Chelsea from shipping an early goal.But the visitors went ahead after Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro sliced Daniel Sturridge's cross and the ball fell at the feet of Mata, who beat Morgan De Sanctis with a first-time shot
The Napoli crowd came back to life in the 38th minute when Cavani fed Lavezzi on the edge of the area and he curled a delightful shot inside the near post.
Chelsea's rearguard got into another mess in first-half added time as Gokhan Inlan delivered a teasing cross which bounced six metres from goal and Cavani stole in front of two defenders to head Napoli in front.
Lavezzi then fired the third goal with a shot into the far corner in the 65th minute after Cavani blocked Luiz's clearance and laid the ball on a plate for his striking partner.