Aston Villa 1, CSKA Moscow 1: Bill Howell's big match verdict
Feb 19 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
It took one reckless challenge from Zat Knight to allow the supremely gifted Vagner Love to advance on goal for the best strike seen at Villa Park this season.
But the giant defender did especially well in spending the rest of the match chaperoning Curtis Davies, who looked uneasy after his shoulder injury at Everton.
Nicky Shorey did some good things, too, and some bad.
Villa were one down before 38,000 flag-waving supporters barely had time to unfurl their new pink and purple freebies.
Love turned on the half-way line, ran away from Craig Gardner and slipped away from Knight’s poor challenge.
He played a neat one-two with Alan Dzagoev, ran into the box and slotted the ball past Brad Guzan with consummate ease.
Villa created two “nearlies” when Carew was inches away from Ashley Young’s in-swinging cross and Agbonlahor was similarly close to connecting at the near post with Shorey’s low cross.
O’Neill’s side then created two golden chances. Ashley Young’s cross should have been meat and drink to Agbonlahor but, just like he did at Everton, his heading skills went awry with the goal at his mercy.
Soon after Ashley Young cut inside his marker and sent over another superb centre only for Carew to narrowly head over the crossbar.
After the break Yuri Zhirkov shot over and Alexei Berezutski sidefooted well wide with just Guzan to beat. But the second half belonged mainly to Villa. At times the pressure was barnstorming. Ashley Young forced a save out of Igor Akinfeev with a wickedly bouncing free-kick that needed to be parried away.
Craig Gardner sent a header against the crossbar from Ashley Young’s left-wing corner and Barry’s free header from another Young centre was blocked.
Then came the goal. Norwegian striker Carew lashing home after Ashley Young’s ball across the six-yard box had been played back into his path by Gardner. Ashley Young then fired a decent chance wide from Agbonlahor’s fine lay-off, while at the other end Love’s shot was blocked by Knight but he still managed to square the rebound across an empty goalmouth.
VILLA (4-4-2): Guzan 6; Luke Young 7, Davies 6, Knight 7, Shorey 6, Gardner 6, Petrov 8, Barry 8, Ashley Young 8, Carew 6, Agbonlahor 7. Not used: Friedel, Bannan, Salifou, Lowry, Albrighton, Harewood, Delfouneso.
CSKA MOSCOW (4-4-2): Akinfeev; Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky, Vasili Berezutsky, Shchennikov; Dzagoev (Daniel Carvalho, 80), Krasic, Zhirkov (Erkin, 90), Aldonin (Mamaev, 90); Rahimic, Vagner Love. Not used: Pomazan, Ramon, Ricardo Jesus, Odiah.
Referee: P Rasmussen (Denmark).
