21.02.2012 » CSKA Moscow 1-1 Real Madrid. Merengues allow a late draw in Russia
A game in Moscow is never an easy one and playing with five degrees below 0, certainly didn't ease the mission. Real Madrid pulled off a 1-1 draw against CSKA and given the weather circumstances, it has to be accounted as a positive result. However, the Russian side would score the equalizer already in added time, leaving the Merengues with a light sensation of frustration, but still in a better a position to book a place for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals next month. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the Spanish side lonely goal, from a great left-foot strike while still on the 1st half. The two teams will clash again in the 2nd leg, which is scheduled for the 13th of March 2012.
Cristiano Ronaldo game photos in CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid
CSKA Moscow 1-1 Real Madrid goals and highlights:
In what was a cold night in Moscow, the Merengues showed their superiority during most of the game periods, by not allowing CSKA to create any dangerous situations from counter attacks. Real Madrid controlled the entire game and reached half-time leading by 0-1, thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal. However, the Merengues ended up failing a few good goalscoring chances in the 2nd half and that somehow encouraged CSKA Moscow to succesfully chase an always painful late goal.
The game started with a truly unfortunate event, as Real Madrid French forward, Karim Benzema, injured himself after a right foot strike that went off target. José Mourinho was then forced to replace Benzema for Gonzalo Higuaín and naturally, Real Madrid's game style didn't change much afterwards.
In the 28th minute, Real Madrid finally took the lead, after a beautiful left-foot strike from Cristiano Ronaldo, assisted by his fellow countryman, Fábio Coentrão. Mourinho has said repeatedly in the past that scoring an away goal in UEFA knock-out stages is most of the times crucial, when it comes to decide who gets qualified. Having scored that vital goal, only time will tell if it's going to turn out to be decisive and put the Merengues in the quarter-finals.
The 2nd half was once again controlled by Real Madrid, but this time, the Merengues couldn't materialize their superiority with goals. The game dragged to the end without any relevant and noteworthy event, except for a few good chances missed by the Spanish side. By not giving its final blow in the game, Real Madrid allowed CSKA Moscow to believe in still pulling off a reasonably good result and the Russian side got rewarded in the final minute of the game. From a long free-kick towards the Merengues area, the Russians caught the Real Madrid's defense unfocused and Wernbloom didn't waste the chance to hit the ball to the back of the net. The final 1-1 result was then set and Real Madrid will now host CSKA Moscow, in the Santiago Bernabéu for the UEFA Champions League 2nd leg, in the 13th of March 2012.
Real Madrid line-up vs CSKA Moscow:
Goalkeeper: Casillas
Defenders:
Fábio Coentrão, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Arbeloa
Midfielders:
Xabi Alonso, Khedira, Ozil
Attackers: Callejón, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema
| Match stats provided by www.ronaldo7.net
|
||
|---|---|---|
CSKA Moscow
|
vs
|
Real Madrid
|
1 |
Goals |
1 |
1 |
Assists |
1 |
9 |
Shots |
15 |
4 |
Shots on goal |
8 |
1 |
Corner kicks |
8 |
15 |
Fouls commited |
10 |
1 |
Yellow cards |
3 |
0 |
Red cards |
0 |
46% |
Ball possession |
54% |
Real Madrid next game will be against Rayo Vallecano for the Spanish League "La Liga", next Sunday (26-02-2012). In the meanwhile, you can watch Marseille vs Inter Milan, but also Basel vs Bayern Munich and Manchester City vs F.C. Porto, from our soccer live streams section. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be on the line-up against Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid kick-off time (26-02-2012):
Jakarta (Indonesia) | GMT+7: 22:00
Spain (Madrid) | GMT+1: 16:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | GMT+0: 15:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | GMT-2: 13:00
New York (United States) | GMT-5: 10:00
Los Angeles (United States) | GMT-8: 07:00
Beijing (China) | GMT-8: 07:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / espn.com
