Story highlights
Real Madrid are held to a 1-1 Champions League draw at CSKA Moscow
A last-gasp goal from Pontus Wernbloom earns the home side a vital draw
Cristiano Ronaldo had fired the Spanish giants into a first-half advantage
A last-gasp goal from Swedish international midfielder Pontus Wernbloom saw CSKA Moscow earn a 1-1 Champions League last 16 home draw with Real Madrid on a freezing cold night in the Russian capital.
Wernbloom, making his debut for the club following his recent transfer from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, was on hand to fire home from close range in the third minute of injury time, after Alexei Berezutsky’s cross from the left had caused uncertainty in the Real Madrid defense.
The goal came somewhat against the run of play, with Jose Mourinho’s side appearing to comfortably deal with both the extreme weather and the artificial pitch in the Luzhniki Stadium.
Real came into the match in sparkling domestic form, holding a 10-point lead over rivals Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga title race.
And they began well in front of a partisan 63,000 crowd, with home keeper Sergei Chepchugov pulling off a great double save from Gonzalo Higuain and Sami Khedira.
However, Chepchugov could do nothing to prevent the visitors taking a 28th-minute lead, as Ronaldo found the net with a powerful drive after Zoran Tosic failed to clear Fabio Coentrao’s cross from the left.
The second half proved a cagey affair, although CSKA’s Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda tested goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a fierce free-kick.
And, with time nearly up, Wernbloom pounced to deny Madrid victory – although the nine-times champions are still the heavy favorites to progress to the quarterfinals following the second leg in two weeks’ time.
Mourinho told reporters: “CSKA are difficult opponents and this was a difficult match. In Madrid, the weather conditions and the pitch will be completely different but I expect a tough battle there also.”
