Sparta Prague 1-1 CSKA Moscow: Report

15 December 2010 20:24
Moscow lose 100% record CSKA Moscow relinquished their 100% record in this season's Europa League in a 1-1 draw with Sparta Prague but it hardly mattered to the Group F winners. They had to settle for a point at the Stadion Letna in bitingly cold conditions in the Czech Republic capital as Sparta Prague proved capable opponents. Alan Dzagoev gave CSKA an early lead, but Sparta found a leveller before half-time from Vaclav Kadlec - and the hosts hit the post at the death. There was little for the teams to play for, given CSKA had already won the group and Sparta were certain to finish second and join their opponents in the last 32. CSKA headed to the Czech Republic with one of only two records - their Russian rivals Zenit St Petersburg had the other - showing five wins from five matches in this season's Europa League. They beat Sparta 3-0 in Moscow on September 30, when two Seydou Doumbia goals came either side of a Mark Gonzalez penalty. And the Russians went in front after 15 minutes on a snow-flecked pitch tonight when Dzagoev drilled in a low shot from around 12 yards. Sparta had been on top before the goal arrived, with Manuel Pamic drawing a parried save from goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov barely a couple of minutes earlier. Chepchugov turned away a headed effort from Bony Wilfred soon after the goal, before CSKA, settled by their goal, began to show their quality. Zoran Tosic sent a shot the wrong side of the right post in the 37th minute, but CSKA were jolted when Sparta found an equaliser in the 44th minute, Jakub Podany headed the ball down and Kadlec, evading two lurking defenders, drove a shot into the right corner from 15 yards. CSKA's Tomas Necid threatened to restore the visitors' lead twice in the early stages of the second half but sent a 20-yard effort wide and then saw his next shot, from a shorter distance, saved by Daniel Zitka. Zitka made another stop in the 65th minute when he caught a 25-yard effort from Eugeni Aldonin, and then produced a more difficult save on the 70-minute mark when he repelled Necid's 18-yard strike. Sparta substitute Leonard Kweuke planted a header wide of the right post as the Czech side continued to look for a winning goal, and with 30 seconds remaining the Cameroonian went frustratingly close to a winner when his shot from 16 yards hit the post.

Sparta Prague 1-1 CSKA Moscow: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.

Source: DSG