Just when it seemed that Real Madrid's work in Russia was done, Pontus Wernbloom volleyed in an injury-time goal for CSKA Moscow to secure an unlikely 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg. When the shock subsides, Jos� Mourinho may reflect that a score draw is not a bad result away from home; he will also reflect that while Madrid rarely shone, they largely controlled a game that they had looked like winning from the moment Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 28th minute.
In the 93rd minute, though, a cross swung in from the right was met by two headers, the second of them back across the face of the six-yard box where the Swede Wernbloom, making his first appearance for CSKA, stretched to score. It was CSKA's first shot on target. Their only other chance had come in the opening seven minutes when Georgy Shennikov's early cross found Alan Dzagoev. Falling backwards, he put his volley wide.
Madrid took the lead midway through the first half. A deep, looping cross from the left dipped into the penalty area and towards Zoran Tosic. Leaning forward awkwardly, he misjudged its flight horribly and failed to get decent contact on the ball. Ronaldo didn't. As it fell to him, 15 yards out, the Portuguese striker hit it left-footed on the bounce and sent it beyond the keeper. It was Ronaldo's 36th goal of another astonishingly productive season.
Madrid were comfortable. Ronaldo, in particular, was active, while Xabi Alonso was exerting an ever greater influence. Sami Khedira was an able assistant alongside him and at centre-back Pepe was alert and aggressive. The few chances there were fell Madrid's way. Sergey Chepchugov made an excellent double save from Gonzalo Higua�n and Khedira. Then early in the second half Jos� Callej�n twice had opportunities in the inside left position ? his first shot was scuffed, his second smothered.
Madrid did little more by way of attacking, but then they did not need to. This was a far from exciting game but it seemed effective enough for Mourinho's side and there were isolated chances to have made it safe. Sergio Ramos headed straight at Chepchugov, who then came out to deny Ronaldo space as he reached Alonso's clever pass. In the final five minutes, Ronaldo steered his shot wide. It appeared to matter little: Madrid had a 1-0 lead and an extra centre-back, Ra�l Albiol, was sent on to ensure they kept it. Besides, CSKA had not threatened Madrid at all. Until Wernbloom suddenly appeared on the edge of their six-yard box.
Mourinho said: "Without doing anything out of this world we had the chances to score a second goal. I'm frustrated but it is not a bad result. I am not happy but I am not too sad either. It's not a drama. It happened to us last year in Lyon and we got through to the quarter-finals then."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/21/cska-moscow-real-madrid-champions-league
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