CSKA Moksva hold on to defeat PSV
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Article summary
CSKA Moskva 3-2 PSV
The Army Men were three up and cruising at the break but endured a nervous end to the second half after two goals from Maxime Lestienne.
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- CSKA bounce back from their matchday one loss to Wolfsburg
- Ahmed Musa puts the Army Men ahead, Seydou Doumbia doubles the lead
- Doumbia scores from the spot and also skies another penalty before half-time
- PSV's Maxime Lestienne on target twice in the second half
- Next matches: CSKA v Man. United, Wolfsburg v PSV (21 October)
Seydou Doumbia scored twice and missed a penalty before the break as CSKA Moskva held off a second-half rally from PSV Eindhoven to get their UEFA Champions League Group B campaign up and running.
The visitors never recovered from the damage caused in the first period by goals from Ahmed Musa and Doumbia. Two thunderous tackles by Mário Fernandes set the tone for the Russian side and they deservedly took the lead after seven minutes when Zoran Tošić's right-wing corner fell invitingly for Musa to stab in.
The hosts did not have to wait long to double their advantage. Neat interplay between Tošić and Fernandes resulted in the latter scampering away down the right. His cross on the run found the unmarked Doumbia, who powered a header beyond Jeroen Zoet.
Doumbia made it 3-0 after Tošić was brought down by Zoet and had the chance to complete his hat-trick when Musa was felled in the area by Santiago Arias, only to fire his second spot kick over the bar.
Whatever Phillip Cocu said to his players at half-time worked as his team improved dramatically. Maxime Lestienne gave the Eredivisie champions a lifeline on the hour, prodding in from close range after good work down the right by Adam Maher.
Lestienne set up a nervy last 22 minutes when he curled in his second from just inside the box, leaving Igor Akinfeev no chance. PSV pushed hard for an equaliser, but their cause was undermined when Arias was dismissed for another foul on the lively Musa.
Key man: Ahmed Musa
The diminutive Nigerian international forward has always had the talent, but this season he is finally realising it. The 22-year-old's pace and incisive running was too much for the Dutch side to handle.
Where the match was won
Leonid Slutski's men immediately took the game to PSV, showing a greater amount of energy and desire. By the time their guests settled, it was too late.
Is there a way back?
PSV showed by beating Manchester United on matchday one that they are a capable team – this result has not changed that. They were undone by an excellent display of pace and power from CSKA, but with all four Group B clubs level on three points there is still everything to play for.
Reaction
Leonid Slutski, CSKA Moskva coach
Today's match showed once again that all teams have to fight until the final whistle in the UEFA Champions League. We should have gone into the half-time break 4-0 up, but in the end we had to defend PSV's attacks to keep our 3-2 lead.
Phillip Cocu, PSV coach
In the first half nothing really went right for us and we conceded three times. I commended my side on their performance in the second half. After the break we had four or five chances to score and even level things up. After the first half, it was difficult to show what we were capable of, but we managed to do that.