Cristiano Ronaldo during CSKA Moscow 1-1 Real Madrid game
Leading with a goal by Cristiano Ronado, Real Madrid appeared to have the game in the bag, but a last minute goal on Tuesday allowed CSKA Moscow to grab a draw (1-1) in the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League.
CSKA were hoping that the cold weather and the unfamiliar artificial pitch would give them an advantage over José Mourinho’s team that had 27 wins in their last 30 games. In fact the Russian team started the game well when Alan Dazgoev’s shot went just wide after a cross from Georgi Schennikov.
Real Madrid continued to have some difficulties and Mourinho was forced to make a change in the team, bringing in Higuain to replace Karim Benzema who injured himself in the right thigh.
The Merengues, who are looking for a 10th Champions Cup (the last time they won was in 2002), soon took control of the game and the lead on the 28th minute from a solid Cristiano Ronaldo shot, after the Russian defense failed to clear a Fábio Coentrão cross. This was Ronaldo’s fourth goal in this competition.
The Russian side tried to respond immediately by pressing the Spanish midfield and forcing Casillas to make some good saves and maintain Real Madrid’s lead. Callejon also came close to scoring for Real Madrid on two occasions.
Coach Leonid Slutsky of CSKA replaced Aldonin with Japanese player Keisuke Honda in the last 15 minutes of the game, but Los Blancos continued to dominate with Cristiano Ronaldo almost scoring from just 15 meters.
Then came a really cold freezing shower for José Mourinho and his team on the 93rd minute, when with just 15 seconds of the game remaining, Wernbloom tied the game 1-1 for CSKA after beating Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos and beat Casillas.
