Sergei Ignashevich scored a late equalizer to give CSKA Moscow a 1-1 draw against PAOK Thessaloniki on Tuesday, which put the Russian club through to the last 16 of the Europa League.
CSKA won the first leg 1-0 away, and advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
Zlatan Muslimovic put PAOK in the lead in the 67th after a mistake by CSKA’s substitute goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov. However, PAOK goalkeeper Dario Kresic then fouled Tomas Tosic in the area in the 80th to give CSKA a decisive penalty. Kresic stopped Brazilian striker Vagner Love’s spot kick, but Ignashevich slotted in the rebound.
Photo: Reuters
The visitors dominated much of the game in subzero temperatures at Luzhniki stadium and wasted several scoring opportunities early.
CSKA had an opportunity in the 12th minute, but Kresic dived to deny Vagner Love from close range.
Muslimovic hit the right post in the 36th and Vieirinha then forced Igor Akinfeev to a save. A minute later, Bruno Cirillo shaved the left post with a shot from inside the box as the visitors pressed for the opener.
Akinfeev was injured when he dived to stop Dimitris Salpingidis’ attempt in the 59th. He tried to continue, but asked for a substitution three minutes later.
Chepchugov had only been in the game a few minutes when he sent a clearance right onto the legs of the oncoming Muslimovic, and the ball went into the net.
Salpingidis missed a chance to make it 2-0 in the 75th when he failed to beat Chepchugov one-on-one.
Yesterday, FC Porto were to host Sevilla, while today’s matches include Liverpool vs Sparta Prague, Manchester City vs Aris and Villarreal against Napoli.
Two matches were scheduled to be played in Russia yesterday with temperatures expected to be hovering around minus 15°C, considered the safe minimum under FIFA and UEFA guidelines.
Last week, Dutch champions Twente Enschede played under protest away to Rubin Kazan amid confusion over the real temperature.
Tijs Tummers, secretary of the technical committee at the international players’ union FIFPro, said there had been discrepancies in readings.
“On all thermometers the temperature was minus-16°C or -minus-17°C, only the thermometer of UEFA gave a temperature of 14.9°C,” he said.
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