CSKA Moscow lost 0:2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg of its UEFA Cup 1/8 finals and has exited the competition. CSKA displayed extreme anxiety during the entire game, and the “miners” from Donetsk knew how to use the situation to their advantage.
Shakhtar really threatened CSKA goalie Igor Akinfeev (pictured right) only a couple of times in the first half. First was Aleksandr Gladkyy’s attempt after a free kick, but Akinfeev was vigilant and deflected the ball into a corner kick. Then was Luis Adriano’s turn when he came one-on-one against Akinfeev, but the best Russian goal keeper took a courageous dive to deny the Brazilian.
The referee scrubbed a goal scored by CSKA in the second half: According to him, Brazilian Wagner Love, who now will certainly not beat Jurgen Klinsmann’s record, fouled his opposing Shakhtar defender. The Brazilian’s rating after the game slumped by 6.83 points, but with 130.26 points, he still holds the first spot in the Top-23 of the Russian Premier League.
Out of frustration, CSKA conceded a penalty after Sergei Ignashevich brought down Luis Fernandinho (pictured left) in the penalty area. Fernandinho took the penalty and narrowly beat Ankinfeev. The Brazilian earned a whole 19.81 points in the game, which puts his rating at 80.75 points. He now tops the list of best players of the Ukrainian championship.
The Russians lost all hope at the 70th minute, when Luiz Adriano took advantage of the confusion in CSKA’s defense and made it 2:0: Akinfeev was pushed in the back, Ignashevich and his goal keeper could not find understanding, and the Brazilian calmly fired home. Coach Zico’s team were unable to show anything of substance in the remaining time.
“We are overwhelmed,” said Zico after the game. “But I believe that Shakhtar’s win had something to do with refereeing. Anyway, we were too nervous, and Shakhtar took advantage of it.”
© FTBL