Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa 1 CSKA Moscow 1: Carew proves equal partner in Love affair
John Carew spared manager Martin O'Neill any heartache after Love had got in the way of Aston Villa's [LNB]UEFA Cup aspirations. [LNB]The tall Norwegian forward for once let his feet do the talking with a vital second half strike as Zico's talented CSKA crop left Villa Park with a moral victory. [LNB]The Muscovites will undoubtedly be the favourites to progress following the return leg at the Luhzniki Stadium next week after their Brazilian striker Vagner Love was both the architect and executor of a superbly-crafted away goal that could prove crucial. [LNB] Dear John: Aston Villa's John Carew fires in the equaliser.[LNB]And they returned to the Russian capital having withstood a fierce bombardment from O'Neill's side, who fought tooth and nail to retain their interest in the competition. [LNB]Carew's 69th-minute goal was the very least Villa deserved after a sustained second half of pressure that was instigated by the outstanding Ashley Young. [LNB]Villa's boss was upbeat after the final whistle. [LNB]'Obviously it will be a difficult game in Moscow,' said O'Neill. [LNB]'They have got the away goal - but it's not an impossible task. We are not out of it. [LNB]'They are a very good side and won their group at a canter. Gareth Barry said there were players throughout the team who played in the Russia side that defeated England recently. They are a gifted team. [LNB]'But my players are learning all the time. I'm going to disagree with people who say that we put in plenty of effort and endeavour. I think we have some real quality in our side. [LNB] Aston Villa 1 CSKA Moscow 1: All the action as it happened[LNB]Petrov awaits Barry fate before committing to new Aston Villa deal[LNB]Is Hiddink planning to stay beyond the summer as he tells Chelsea: Raid [LNB]VIDEO SPECIAL: See Chelsea targets Yuri Zhirkov - the 'Russian [LNB]ASTON VILLA FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB]'Stiliyan Petrov was outstanding, Gareth Barry is learning from his exposure to European football with us and with England and Ashley Young delivered some great balls into the box. [LNB]'If I was four years younger and still playing, I'd have scored about 29-a-season with him playing like that.' [LNB] Check up: New temporary Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink was accompanied by owner Roman Abramovich at Villa Park[LNB] Chelsea[LNB]owner Roman Abramovich and new boss Guus Hiddink saw for themselves what a difficult proposition O'Neill's side have become. [LNB]Chelsea visit Villa on Saturday, so Abramovich was in the unusual position of watching two teams in whom he has a financial interest at Villa Park in a matter of days. [LNB]UEFA's rules ban dual ownership but the oil oligarch invests in CSKA through a sponsorship deal. [LNB]There was no sign of the onslaught to come when Love, a target for Manchester City[LNB]and Everton[LNB], produced a goal out of nothing on 14 minutes. [LNB] Key battle: Ashley Young shields the ball from CSKA defender Alexei Berezutsky.[LNB] The move began without too much alarm in Villa's rearguard. Love picked up the ball on the halfway line and his close control enabled him to turn full circle, shaking off Barry's immediate attentions. [LNB]He moved forward, withstanding a challenge from Craig Gardner and sidestepped Zat Knight. He then played a swift one-two with Alan Dzagoev that enabled him to speed up a gear and he finished comfortably, poking past Brad Guzan. [LNB]David Moyes, sat in the directors' box, would have been impressed. Word had it that a prohibitive price tag had been the reason why the Scot had not formalised his interest. As one press box wag observed, money could not buy him Love. [LNB]Both Gabby Agbonlahor and Carew should have done better from two crosses in three minutes from Young before the interval. [LNB]After their half-time refreshment, Villa emerged revitalised and, prompted by the ubiquitous Barry, fed Young who provided enough ammunition to have won the game twice over. [LNB]But barely two minutes before the equaliser, Alexei Berezutski decided that shackling Young was too onerous a task and ventured upfield. His finish, after being played through by the impressive Yury Zhirkov, was horrible. [LNB] From Russia with Love: CSKA Moscow's Vagner Love celebrates his stunning opener.[LNB]It was to prove a pivotal moment. Gardner had come closest to levelling with a header that skimmed the bar. [LNB]When Villa's equaliser finally arrived, the supply line was no surprise. Young's cross was retrieved by Gardner who had the presence of mind to pull back to Carew, who chose accuracy ahead of power and his side-foot ended in the net after Igor Akinfeev dived too early to his left. [LNB]MATCH FACTSASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Guzan 6; L Young 6, Knight 6, Davies 6, Shorey 6; Gardner 7, Petrov 7, Barry 8, A Young 9; Carew 7, Agbonlahor 6. Booked: Petrov, Young. [LNB]CSKA MOSCOW (4-3-3): Akinfeev 5; A Berezutski 5, V Berezutski 6, Igansahevich 6, Shchennikov 6; Aldonin 6 (Mamaev 90min), Rahmic 6, Zhirkov 7 (Caner 90); Dzagoev 7 (Carvalho 80), Krasic 6, Love 8.[LNB] Man of the match: Ashley Young. Referee: Peter Rasmussen (Denmark). [LNB] Villa probed and pushed. They managed to regain possession and pin back the Russians, but a second goal would not come. Zico, when asked whether he was confident of progressing, said: 'Of course, a man without confidence is not a man.' [LNB]And he gave a surprising post-match account of the proceedings, suggesting that Villa's game plan of using Young at almost every juncture was planned for. O'Neill's verdict was far closer to the truth. [LNB]'Villa always play in the same manner,' said the CSKA manager. 'We were used to it. [LNB]'Very seldom do they play the ball through the middle. It's always Ashley Young's passes from the flank and we were ready for this. This was a good result for us. But nothing is resolved yet.' [LNB] Aston Villa 1 CSKA Moscow 1: All the action as it happened[LNB]Petrov awaits Barry fate before committing to new Aston Villa deal[LNB]Is Hiddink planning to stay beyond the summer as he tells Chelsea: Raid [LNB]VIDEO SPECIAL: See Chelsea targets Yuri Zhirkov - the 'Russian [LNB]ASTON VILLA FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
