Aston Villa 1-1 CSKA Moscow

Game : Aston Villa vs CSKA Moscow

Competition : UEFA Cup Round of 32

Final score : Aston Villa 1-1 CSKA Moscow ( Vagner Love 14′/ John Carew 69′)

Norwegian striker John Carew’s 69th minute equaliser allowed Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa to draw 1-1 with CSKA Moscow at home and set up an intriguing second leg in the Russian capital a week from now.

CSKA, the only team to go through the group stages with a 100% win record took the lead in the fourteenth minute through prolific Brazilian striker Vagner Love.  He dragged the ball from his own half, and played a one two with Alan Dzagoev before shooting past Brad Guzan from close range.

Villa strove hard for the equaliser and constantly attacked from the left flank. Gareth Barry’s 21st minute cross was well collected by Igor Akinfeev before Gabriel Agbonlahor could make something out of it.

Eight minutes later, Barry fought for the ball in the CSKA half, and played it to Ashley Young, whose menacing cross found Agbonlahor, who unfortunately made a complete mess of his header.

Carew headed over the bar in the 33rd minute, and at the other end Russian international Yuri Zhirkov came close too.

In the 53rd minute, Craig Gardner’s headed hit the woodwork as Villa started to pile on the pressure. But for all their play, Villa nearly went behind by another goal after Vasily Berezutski found himself with space in the Villa box. Fortunately for Martin O’Neill, his shot was off target.

Villa grabbed the equaliser in the 69th minute, with Young crossing into the box from the left hand side. It went to Gardner, who laid it out for John Carew to smash home.

Villa now face Chelsea in the Premier League next, a fixture you must certainly not miss.