CSKA Moscow are still in with a chance to qualify for the next round of Champions League, and are at worst favorites for a Europa League spot following their home victory over Viktoria Plzen. The Czech side have no points from their first two games after their 3-2 loss in Russia.
CSKA Moscow vs. Viktoria Plzen: Final score 3-2, own goal seals win for hosts
While CSKA Moscow deserved their win against Viktoria Plzen, the match will probably be best remembered for the comical own goal that ensured their victory.
Oleg Nikishin
The hosts should have had an early lead -- or at least a great chance to score -- but squandered their opportunity with a giveaway that led directly to a goal for Plzen. Zoran Tosic looked to be free in behind the defense, but CSKA couldn’t find him and instead turned the ball over. Less than a minute later. Milan Petrazela had a shot blocked into the path of Frantisek Rajtoral, who finished to put Plzen up 1-0.
Watch: Matus Kozacik lets in an outrageous own goal
This might be on the Mount Rushmore of great own goals. CSKA struck back in the 19th minute through Tosic, though most of the work was done by Ahmed Musa. He made a brilliant turn away from his defender in midfield, followed by a solo run forward and a pass for Tosic, who finished from inside the box. Keisuke Honda put CSKA on top 2-1 not long after that, finishing off a Tosic through ball in the 29th minute as Plzen’s defense fell apart.
The second half started with a flurry for CSKA, with Musa hitting the post in the 50th minute when it would have been easier to score, off a cross from Kirill Nababkin. That would be the last real chance CSKA generated for the next 25 minutes, as Plzen dominated possession, but they failed to turn their good spell of play into shots that tested Igor Akinfeev.
Even though CSKA were limited to just counter attacking, they managed to find a goal on one in the 78th minute, though they had very little to do with it. Radim Reznik attempted to cut out a through ball towards Tosic and poked it back to his goalkeeper, but Matus Kazacik failed to trap the ball under his foot, letting it roll by him for an awful own goal.
Plzen made one last-ditch effort to get back into the game and found a stoppage time goal from Marek Bakos, who headed in from 10 yards off a crazy scramble in the box, but they never came particularly close to finding an equalizer.
CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Shennikov, Ignashevich, Berezutsky, Nababkin, Wernbloom, Elm (Milanov 73’), Zuber (Gonzalez 64’), Honda, Tosic, Musa (Vitoria 88’)
Goals: Tosic (19’), Honda (29’), Reznik OG (78’)
Viktoria Plzen: Kozacik, Hubnik, Reznik (Popsil 84’), Prochazka, Rajtoral, Kovarik (Tecil 70’), Kolar, Harava (Duris 77’), Horvath, Petrzela, Bakos
Goals: Rajtoral (4’), Bakos (90’)
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