With just a 2-1 lead after their win in Portugal last week, Sporting Lisbon had a tough task as they needed to protect a slim advantage against CSKA Moscow on foreign soil.
Sporting looked like the better team in the first half and at times they looked like they truly deserved to advance to the next phase of the tournament but CSKA reacted in the second half, scored three goals and turned things around as they won 3-1, securing a place in the Group Stage of the Champions League thanks to a 4-3 win on the aggregate score.
First half
The first half was rather dull as neither side was able to create many scoring chances. Both defensive lines were pretty sharp in the first 45 minutes and even though CSKA were in more need of a positive result, it was Sporting who ended creating the best chances. Aided by the mobility of Teo Gutierrez and the pace of Bryan Ruiz coming behind from midfield, Sporting came close to score in the ninth minute with a header but his effort went a bit wide off the post.
CSKA sent several crosses into the box looking for Seydou Doumbia but Sporting was really strong on the air as they deflected the ball away from the danger zone time and time again. CSKA was forced to make a substitution around the 30th minute mark when Mario Fernandes left the game with a minor injury and a few minutes later, the visitors netted the first goal of the match.
Two quick goals
After a succession of passes in the middle of the pitch, Joao Pereira pushed forward on the right flank and sent a through ball into the box to find Teo Gutierrez. The Colombian international beat his defender and blasted a right-footed effort that went past Igor Akinfeev to give Sporting a 1-0 lead. The first half ended with the advantage for the visitors and several boos from the crowd as CSKA hadn’t show much creativity that could make the fans think about a possible comeback.
CSKA Moscow, however, started the second half with a different attitude and they managed to equalize the game rather quickly as Doumbia took advantage of a confusing play to deflect the ball into the net from very close range.
Knowing they had one more goal, the Russian side tried to play with even more pace in the final third but Sporting looked pretty solid on the defensive end. Even though Gutierrez and Andre Carrillo were left a bit isolated up front, the Portuguese defense was pretty sharp on their interventions and they limited the danger created by CSKA’s attacking line that didn’t offer much aside from a few runs from Zoran Tosic and Alan Dzagoev.
Knowing they had a result that would send them to the next round, Sporting opted to play more defensively and the subbed off Gutierrez to enter Islam Slimani. CSKA realized they had a golden chance to start creating danger and they found the back of the net in 72th minute when Ahmed Musa took advantage of a defensive mistake, made his way into the box and crossed the ball to Doumbia who only had to tap the back into the empty net to make it 2-1.
Late drama
The final 15 minutes of the second half were pretty intense. Sporting looked to score the goal that would’ve knocked CSKA’s chances off the board while the Russians had all the momentum to add another goal that would’ve send them to the next round of the tournament. Both teams managed to produce some interesting movements going forward and Sporting actually found the back of the net in the 82nd minute with a header from Slimani, but the goal was ruled out as the ball apparently left the pitch when it was crossed into the box.
The ruling out of the goal wasn’t very clear but apparently it woke up CSKA as they managed to complete the comeback in the 85th minute. Tosic started the play on the right flank, passed the ball to Dzagoev and the cultured midfielder put a delightful through ball into the box that was captured by Musa. The Nigeria international dribbled Rui Patricio and sent the ball into the back of the net to send the home fans into raptures.
Sporting tried to react in the final minutes as the manager sent Carlos Mane and Freddy Montero to the pitch but it was too late as CSKA had already closed the game out with the entrance of Aleksei Berezutskiy. If Sporting had any opportunity to add another goal, their window closed when Joao Mario was sent off on stoppage time after a harsh foul against a CSKA player.
The Czech referee Pavel Královec blew his whistle after the 94th minute and CSKA players invaded the pitch to celebrate after securing their place in the UEFA Champions League’s group stage following their spectacular comeback in the second half. As for Sporting Lisbon, they couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities and they will be forced to play in the UEFA Europa League even though they made enough merits to, at times, deserve to advance. Both teams will get to know their rivals after the draw that will be held in Monaco on Friday.