Sheriff arrest Spartak progress

Razak Omotoyossi struck a last-minute equaliser as FC Sheriff held FC Spartak Moskva to a 1-1 draw in this second qualifying round first-leg match.

Titov hits post
The Russian visitors, playing their first UEFA Champions League match for four seasons, enjoyed the better of the the first half at a buzzing Sheriff stadium in Tiraspol, but Serghei Covalciuc, Mozart and Yegor Titov all failed to convert presentable chances. The latter player went closest to breaking the deadlock, hitting the post two minutes before the break. George Florescu and Omotoyossi tried to respond for Sheriff as the game wore on but Spartak finally scored the goal their dominance deserved when Radoslav Kováč powered a Mozart free-kick low into the net.

Precious goal
But the Moscow-based outfit, who lie fifth in the Premier-Liga after 13 rounds, were pegged back amid late drama. Spartak goalkeeper Wojciech Kowalewski failed to hold a Sheriff free-kick and the Beninese striker Omotoyossi arrived first to bundle the ball in, giving the Moldovan side real hope of causing a major shock when they play the second leg a week from today.