Zico’s CSKA Moscow came to Shakhtar Donetsk‘s SK Olimpiyskyi with a 1-0 lead to protect thanks to Vagner Love’s strike in Russia.

The Moles were keen to restore parity in the UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie and would predictably dominate proceedings, although the first meaningful chance was spurned by the visitors and Alan Dzagoev.

Midway through the half, Oleksandr Gladkiy cut in sharply from the right and forced a flying save from Igor Akinfeev as he blasted for the top corner.

Both ‘keepers had to look sharp during a positive opening period, but the golden opportunity again fell to the hosts. A scuffed shot ended up at the feet of Luiz Adriano in space, but he couldn’t clip over Akinfeev after collecting and turning, unmarked, just yards from goal.

Sergei Ignashevich thumped a free-kick narrowly wide at the other end and Vagner Love was involved in a close call. He scampered through on goal but was flagged offside, to his disbelief.

Second Half

The game really came to life after the break, and it would of course be decided on way or the other. The referee had some big decisions to make – ones which would decide the quarter-finalists.

First, Gladkiy tumbled to the deck inside the visitors’ box and looked on in astonishment as Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers waved him to his feet.

If the hosts were annoyed by that call, the visitors were completely bamboozled by the next. A deep free-kick was headed back across goal and, in turn, Vagner Love forced into the net with a powerful downward header. However, he was adjudged to have fouled his marker, who’d went flying dramatically.

Soon, they’d rue that call even more. Gladkiy’s shot was blocked inside the area and, as Fernandinho rushed at the loose ball, he tumbled over the sprawling Pavel Mamaev and the ref pointed to the spot. Fernandinho picked himself up and confidently drilled the ball past Akinfeev, just inside his right post.

Mircea Lucescu’s men then set about trying to kill off their opponents. Gladkiy was always busy and had a ball nicked off his toe in the nick of time as he shaped to shoot.

With 20 minutes remaining, though, an intense spell of pressure would eventually undo CSKA. First, Luiz Adriano beat the offside trap and surged through, only for Akinfeev to wipe out both he and the ball, repelling the danger. Moments later, Gladkiy smacked the ball off the inside of the near post and was unlucky to see it bounce away.

Finally, the Russians stopped when Olexander Kucher challenged Akinfeev in the air, but the referee played on, allowing Luiz Adriano to roll into the net from close range and give Shakhtar their first lead of the tie.

One may have expected a CSKA assault in the remaining minutes, but they couldn’t quite muster a grandstand finish. Indeed, Mariusz Lewandowski had a couple of chances to put the result beyond doubt, narrowly failing to connect with a dangerous cross and volleying over from the edge of the box late on.

Thus it finished, and Shakhtar Donetsk progress to the quarter-finals at the expense of Zico’s troops.