CSKA edge into last 16
Russian giants CSKA Moscow survived a dramatic second half to progress to the last 16 of the Europa League after a 1-1 draw against PAOK Salonika.
Leading 1-0 heading into the second leg in Moscow, CSKA were stunned when Zlatan Muslimovic scored for PAOK midway through the second half to level the tie on aggregate.
However, Sergei Ignashevich scored after Vagner Love's missed penalty to edge CSKA back in front and through to the next round.
Tomas Necid's first-half goal at the Toumbas Stadium in Salonika had given CSKA a one-goal lead to take into Tuesday night's second leg
Love tried his luck in the opening 20 seconds but dragged his shot wide from inside the box. In the ninth minute Vladimir Ivic shot from the edge of the penalty area but was off target before team-mate Dimitris Salpingidis' effort went left of the goal.
Adelino Vieirinha also blazed wide for the visitors before CSKA's Pavel Mamaev failed from distance and Love was superbly denied by Dario Kresic's save from point-blank range.
Aleksandrs Cauna's header was saved by PAOK stopper Dario Kresic.
Further chances came and went - including Muslimovic hitting the post for PAOK in the 36th minute - while the visitors also came close when Dimitris Salpingidis somehow missed from six yards.
Zoran Tosic and Necid were lively for CSKA but the hosts were unable to kill the tie off.
They were made to pay in the 67th minute when Muslimovic capitalised on some slack defending to fire home the crucial opening goal from 12 yards to restore parity on aggregate.
The goal kick-started a dramatic period as CSKA earned a penalty when goalkeeper Kresic fouled Tosic in the box. Love's weak penalty was saved as Kresic nearly made amends for his foul, only for Ignashevich to slam home the rebound.
It was a devastating blow from which PAOK simply could not recover.
CSKA Moscow 1-1 PAOK Salonika: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
