CSKA seal second spot

CSKA Moscow progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Besiktas.

Russians advance with 2-1 win over Besiktas

CSKA Moscow progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Besiktas as Manchester United did them a favour in Germany. The Russian side needed to better the result achieved by Wolfsburg against an under-strength United XI in the group's other match to seal second place. And as Wolfsburg suffered a 3-1 defeat, CSKA were able to celebrate after producing a battling performance to pick up three points in Turkey. Milos Krasic's 41st minute goal looked set to be the match-winner until Bobo netted a late equaliser to set up a tense finale. Eugeni Aldonin then scored a second for CSKA deep into stoppage time as Besiktas' hopes of making it through to the Europa League were extinguished.

Slow to settle

CSKA's preparations for the crunch encounter had been disrupted by the news that Aleksei Berezutski and Sergei Ignashevich both failed drugs tests after the 3-3 draw with Manchester United and would be provisionally suspended from all domestic and European games. Reports later emerged that CSKA could be thrown out of the Champions League and banned from future tournaments as Uefa have the power to take action against a team when more than one player is charged with a doping offence. The turbulent build-up to kick-off might explain why CSKA found it so difficult to settle in the early stages, although the hostile atmosphere that awaits every opponent at the Inonu Stadium was perhaps another factor. Roared on by the home crowd, Besiktas dominated possession in the opening half hour and carved out a couple of glorious opportunities to break the deadlock. Ibrahim Uzulmez carved out the first chance of the evening for the hosts after eight minutes when he fired in a drilled effort from long range which sailed wide of the target. Besiktas spurned a better chance to go ahead three minutes later when Rodrigo Tello found himself clean through but contrived to chip the ball wide of the advancing goalkeeper when he took aim from outside the area. The Turkish side continued to press and Igor Akinfeev had to be alert to stop Fabian Ernst's effort from outside the area after 17 minutes. Besiktas were made to pay for their missed chances when Krasic opened the scoring with a magnificent breakaway effort four minutes before the interval, latching onto a fine pass from Deividas Semberas and delivering a composed finish into the far corner with his right foot. There was a delay early in the second half after flamboyant Besiktas goalkeeper Rustu Recber collided with Elvir Rahimic and was left with a bloodied nose and shirt which required attention from the Besiktas physio and kit-man.

Penalty appeal

The hosts appealed for a penalty after 55 minutes when Ibrahim Toraman's shot was charged down by the hands of Chidi Odiah. In truth the defender had no chance to get out of the way of the effort and referee Martin Hansson, the official who failed to spot Thierry Henry's handball against the Republic of Ireland last month, correctly awarded a corner. Besiktas continued to do much of the running and Bobo headed over midway through the second period as they battled to restore parity. Substitute Ugur Inceman was next to chance his arm from the edge of the area with 11 minutes remaining but he fired into the ground and the ball bobbled into the arms of the waiting Akinfeev. Akinfeev had to work much harder to keep CSKA's lead intact minutes later when substitute Nihat fired in a low effort which the goalkeeper did well to parry clear. But Besiktas' efforts were finally rewarded four minutes from time when Bobo connected with Uzulmez's left-wing cross with a crisp volley past the CSKA stopper. Nihat went close with a volley in stoppage time as the hosts threatened to take all the points but CSKA wrapped up when Tomas Necid flicked the ball on from a throw in for Aldonin to fire home from a tight angle.

Besiktas	Team Statistics	CSKA Moscow
1	Goals	2
0	1st Half Goals	1
6	Shots on Target	4
10	Shots off Target	6
5	Blocked Shots	2
9	Corners	3
13	Fouls	13
7	Offsides	1
3	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
76.7	Passing Success	72.9
20	Tackles	16
90	Tackles Success	75
55.2	Possession	44.8
58.9	Territorial Advantage	41.1