CSKA keep hopes alive

Krasic: Scored winner

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CSKA Moscow came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 on Wednesday to keep their UEFA Champions League Group B hopes alive.

The German champions only needed a draw to progress from the group into the knockout phase of the elite competition alongside Manchester United.

They enjoyed the perfect start via Edin Dzeko's opener on 19 minutes but Tomas Necid equalised on 58 minutes and the outstanding Milos Krasic hit the winner eight minutes later.

The win draws CSKA level on seven points with Wolfsburg ahead of their final group games on 8th December, with the German champions hosting Man Utd while the Russians travel to Besiktas.

If they are still level-pegging after the final group games, Wolfsburg will progress thanks to their 3-1 victory over the Russians back in September.

First chance

The first chance of this game came in the 11th minute when Dzeko headed over from a Marcel Schafer cross.

Alan Dzagoev tried an effort from a tight angle on 15 minutes but Josue did well to block, while soon afterwards Vasili Berezutsky's shot from a Krasic cross was deflected out for a corner but CSKA could not capitalise.

The German champions then took the lead against the run of play in the 19th minute when Obafemi Martins fed the ball through to Dzeko in the box and the striker slotted home from the right across keeper Igor Akinfeev.

Dzeko made a great cut-back from the right but Zvjezdan Misimovic skied his effort well over from the edge of the box in the 32nd minute, while Krasic's corner from the right seven minutes later eventually fell to Alexei Berezutsky but his point-blank shot was brilliantly saved by Diego Benaglio.

Soon after the restart, Evgeny Aldonin's low effort from 25 yards just flashed by Benaglio's right post, while Sergei Ignashevich had to be at full stretch to intercept a cross with Dzeko lurking.

Offside goal

Then on 53 minutes Dzeko, clearly in an offside position, got a touch to Martins' side-footed shot to put the ball in the net but the goal was rightly disallowed.

At the other end, Benaglio made another great save with his right leg from Pavel Mamaev's shot from 12 yards.

But CSKA finally got their equaliser on 58 minutes when Necid headed home unmarked from six yards from Aldonin's inch perfect cross from the right.

Dzagoev's shot was then blocked as Wolfsburg had to survive heavy pressure, but Krasic gave the Russians the lead with a stunning strike on 66 minutes.

The Serbian collected the ball 35 yards out and took one touch before unleashing an unstoppable effort past the diving Benaglio into the corner of the net.

A minute later, Wolfsburg brought on Karim Ziani for Martins but the substitute's shot on 74 minutes was saved by Akinfeev.

The Germans pressed for an equaliser and Christian Gentner shot wide from the edge of the box and Akinfeev had to tip over an effort from Marcel Schafer.

But CSKA held firm and Benaglio had to save from Dzagoev at the other end, with the same player also blasting wide in the dying seconds.