Ten-man Russian reigning champions CSKA Moscow battled from a goal down to record their first win in the new Premier League season beating visiting Samara 2-1 on Monday.
CSKA Ivory Coast marksman Seydou Doumbuia, who has finally recovered from a back injury, scored both goals for the hosts, while midfielder Ilya Maximov was on target for Samara.
"I'm very grateful to my players for their stout performance tonight," CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky said.
"They manged to win after we were reduced to 10 man and missed a penalty. Such a comeback is worth a lot."
CSKA started in lively fashion but they suffered a major setback in the eighth minute when their defender Georgy Shchennikov was sent off for a professional foul on Samara midfielder Ibragim Tsallagov.
The Red Army side found themselves trailing 1-0 in the 14th minute when the guests' attacking midfielder Maximov scored with a precise spotkick after CSKA playmaker Alan Dzagoev fouled him in the area.
In the 21st minute the Muscovites had a clear chance to level after Samara fouled Brazilian striker Vagner Love in the box. But Dzagoev failed to convert, sending the ball over the crossbar.
After the break CSKA upped the tempo pinning the visitors back and pulled the scores level in the 68th minute through second-hald substitute Doumbia, who sent the ball home despite tough physical opposition of Samara's back Ivan Taranov.
Nine minutes later Doumbia had the Red Army side supporters on their feet as he lifted his club 2-1 up with his second of the match, which he scored with a precise spotkick, beating Samara goalkeeper Sergei Veremko with a low shot.
"We did not play too badly tonight," Samara head coach Gadzhi Gazhiev said. "But I believe we can play better. And we will play better. Soon."
Source: AFP
