Champions League - CSKA defeat Besiktas

Eurosport - Wed, 30 Sep 20:38:00 2009

CSKA Moscow won for the first time in six Champions League matches as they disposed of Besiktas 2-1 in Group B at the Luzhniki Stadium.

FOOTBALL CSKA Moscow's Alan Dzagoev celebrates after scoring against Besiktas during their Champions League match at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow - 0

The Turkish side could not respond to Alan Dzagoev's seventh-minute opener and Milos Krasic doubled the hosts' lead in the second half.

Besiktas midfielder Ekrem Dag netted a consolation strike in stoppage time with a crisp close-range volley, but CSKA hung on for a deserved victory.

As ever, the vagaries of the plastic pitch in Moscow were attributed to Besiktas' impotence, but in their last Champions League appearance in 2007 they failed to score in all three matches.

Juande Ramos's side seized the initiative from the outset with Chidi Odiah and Pavel Mamaev dominating the early exchanges in midfield.

Dzagoev demonstrated why he is such a coveted talent after unleashing a 30-yard thunderbolt into the top corner of Recber Rustu's net to open the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes.

Marat Izmailov was put clean through on goal by Ekrem Dag as Besiktas enjoyed a rare attack, but Igor Akinfeev was swiftly off his line to avert the danger as the midfielder dallied in front of goal.

Former Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez was a persistent threat with his pace on the left wing and the Chilean whipped in a devilish delivery which Tomas Necid latched on to at the back post, but his volley was poor and drifted wide.

The second half was a scrappy affair as the hosts' passing game was fragmented by Besiktas' determined efforts to force their way back into the match, but to no avail as they lacked any cutting edge in attack.

It took a touch of brilliance from Krasic to double his side's lead with a powerful and incisive run down the right wing before cutting inside and drilling a low shot under Rustu's sprawling dive. The veteran keeper's effort left a lot to be desired as he let the ball squirm under his grasp, but the run was worthy of the goal.

Substitute Yusuf Simsek almost grabbed a goal back for Besiktas after a goalmouth scramble ensued following a shot from Mert Nobre, but Akinfeev did well to parry to safety.

The Turkish side did muster a goal in the second minute of stoppage time, with Dag pouncing on a loose ball inside the CSKA box after Koybasi's pinpoint cross found him unmarked, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

After both sides lost their opening Group B matches, to Manchester United and Wolfsburg respectively, Ramos will be relieved his side have established themselves. Besiktas find themselves still seeking the first points of their campaign.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

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  1. Where did you get Marat Izmailov in Besiktas side­ from?) He is a Sporting Lisbon player..

    From V. P. T, on Thu 1 Oct 10:11AM
  2. well done cska makes me soo proud!!

    From andreysizemin, on Thu 1 Oct 8:32AM
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