Kopic is booked in the 92nd minute of the match for wasting time during a Plzen throw-in, deep inside CSKA’s half.
90'
The referee indicates an additional three minutes at the end of the match!
87'
CSKA come forward down the right, but Mario Fernandes is forced back by Kopic who has looked good since being introduced. The home side are now finding very little space, and have somehow lost all their creative spark.
85'
With five minutes left, it’s still a wonder how CSKA have thrown the result away! They looked so comfortable and dominant – but that’s long-since forgotten as they storm forward looking for an equaliser in a now-silent Luzhniki Stadium!
81'
L. Hejda has scored a goal for Viktoria Plzen! Assist by P. Hrošovský.
Hrosovsky's delivery after the short corner is a beautiful one - finding the head of his intended target perfectly. It just might be the game-winning assist!
UNBELIEVABLE! PLZEN HAVE THE LEAD! 2-1 TO THE VISITORS! It’s a simple set-piece which works to perfection as Hrosovsky’s cross after a short-corner routine meets the head of Hejda who falls backwards as he nods the ball past Akinfeev and into the goal!
80'
J. Řezníček enters the game and replaces T. Chorý.
T. Zhamaletdinov enters the game and replaces F. Chalov.
Chalov has looked very good today linking with his team-mates and holding up play. The only thing missing for him is a goal – which he won’t get a chance to score as he is replaced by Zhamaletdinov.
Chory has looked isolated in attack and Vrba uses his last substitution to replace him with Reznicek.
78'
Reznik has a shot from outside the area with his left foot which is saved comfortably by Akinfeev.
76'
Plzen are in possession, but they’re certainly not in a hurry as they pass it around in midfield before turning around and firing back to Hruska who lumps it forward in order to spark something further down the pitch.
74'
Chalov’s cross for Mario Fernandes is hit too deep, but the defence takes no chances as the left-back fires the ball into touch, allowing Plzen to reorganise.
Minute
Description
72'
K. Kuchaev enters the game and replaces I. Oblyakov.
Oblyakov has had a number of chances to score and has been unable to do so. Perhaps Kuchaev can do better as he’s brought in with less than 20 minutes left.
71'
HRUSKA KEEPS THE MATCH LEVEL! After another spell of CSKA pressure, Sigurdsson gets free inside the penalty area and fires a shot from just outside the six-yard box after receiving a wonderful pass from Chalov. Hruska sees it the whole way and flings his palms at the strike, clearing it away from danger!
70'
M. Havel enters the game and replaces M. Petržela.
Vrba’s first change brought almost-immediate results, and he’ll be hoping for the same as Petrzela is replaced by Havel.
68'
Bistrovic has a shot towards goal which is blocked by a crowd just outside the 18-yard box. It’s all getting a little desperate for CSKA who continue to push forward, desperately searching for the goal that will restore their advantage.
66'
Vlasic spins and fires a cross towards the three CSKA players inside the Plzen penalty area, but none of them are able to get anything on the delivery – allowing the visitors to clear their lines.
62'
This time it’s Chalov who doesn’t meet the service as Mario Fernandes’ cross into the six-yard is put just over the head of the striker who would otherwise have had a simple finish from close range! How many chances will CSKA squander?!
60'
P. Hrošovský gets yellow.
Hrosovsky sees yellow for a cynical foul in midfield.
58'
Well we certainly have ourselves a game now! CSKA left themselves uncharacteristically open at the back, with Petrzela allowed to sprint down the length of the opposition half on the left with minimal opposition. Worrying signs out of nowhere for Goncharenko.
56'
R. Procházka has scored a goal for Viktoria Plzen! Assist by J. Kopic.
Brought on at half-time, Kopic has made his impact felt immediately, with a great assist to get his side level.
OUT OF NOWHERE, PLZEN HAVE LEVELLED IT! 1-1! Prochazka makes amends for his earlier penalty miss with a looped shot into the top-right corner of the goal from just inside the penalty area! Kopic's wonderfully weighted cross into the 18-yard box finds the midfielder perfectly!
54'
Chory has a sight at goal and it’s worth the attempt as he puts his right foot behind a shot from outside the penalty area which is saved relatively easily by Akinfeev.
52'
A nice interchange between Hejda and Petrzela in the attacking third comes to an end as the latter is unable to stay onside. Finally a nice pattern of play from the visitors – and it ends as soon as it starts.
50'
Plzen win a throw-in right in front of the technical area, which is taken short and drilled long in the general direction of Akinfeev, with no visiting player anywhere near the vicinity to latch onto it. That’s more poor play from the Plzen midfield who are not having their finest of evenings.
48'
Chory has the ball just outside the penalty area, but Chernov’s slight poke knocks possession away from the striker, and to Rodrigo Becao who cleans up the danger.
46'
J. Kopic enters the game and replaces D. Limberský.
D. Efremov enters the game and replaces G. Shchennikov.
CSKA also make a change during the interval as Schennikov makes way for Efremov.
Viktoria Plzen make a change at half-time, with Limbersky making way for Kopic in an attacking substitution.
Plzen get the match restarted from the kick-off, down 1-0!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: CSKA MOSCOW 1-0 VIKTORIA PLZEN.
45'
The fourth official indicates an additional two minutes at the end of the half.
As if Plzen’s day couldn’t get any worse, Prochazka aims his shot weakly at the bottom-left corner and sees his chance at levelling the match denied by the outstretched arm of Akinfeev.
44'
Penalty saved by I. Akinfeev!
AKINFEEV MAKES THE SAVE! CSKA’s captain saves the day as he dives low to his left to make a wonderful stop! It remains 1-0!
38'
Vlasic’s pass through the Plzen defence finds the foot of Chalov, who is unable to get a shot off as he stumbles towards the byline with the ball in his possession. His last-ditch attempted chip actually comes off – and CSKA win a corner.
36'
R. Hubník gets yellow.
Captain Hubnik is shown the third yellow card of the game for cynically stepping on the heels of Sigurdsson in midfield.
34'
It’s an easy punch over the bar for Akinfeev as Prochazka’s free-kick is taken right towards the goalkeeper. Plzen win a corner-kick however, which they elect to take short.
32'
Vlasic pushes Kovarik over just outside the penalty area, giving Plzen a free-kick in a wonderful position to shoot. Can they make the most of this?!
30'
CSKA are once again in possession – furthering their statistical dominance of the match. The score isn’t an accurate reflection of the way the match is going, as the home side should really be three or four goals up.
28'
SCHENNIKOV MISSES AGAIN! Brilliant hold-up play from Chalov who waits in possession just outside the penalty area, until Schennikov completes his run into the penalty area. The little-chipped pass through the defence is perfect, but the connection for the shot is slightly rushed, as Hruska speeds off his line – causing him to shoot just wide!
26'
Plzen players are furious with the referee after a slew of hard challenges from CSKA players in defence goes unpunished by the referee who deems the tackles fair. Nothing seems to be going their way at the moment.
24'
F. Chalov gets yellow.
It’s a second yellow of the match for CSKA – this time it’s awarded to Chalov for throwing a flailing arm in the face of Hubnik during an aerial duel.
21'
Plzen seem out of their depth at the moment as another lacklustre spell of possession ends without troubling the goalkeeper. CSKA are keeping their shape very well in defence, keeping all of the play in front of them. Someone needs to step up and create something for the visitors – as Chory is far too isolated.
19'
HRUSKA WITH A WONDERFUL SAVE! The attack once again flows down the right, before a cross is met inside the penalty area by Oblyakov whose volley – hit on the turn – is saved by two strong palms from the goalkeeper. That’s a wonderful take considering his lack of balance and an even better stop!
17'
The earlier goal will absolutely deflate the visitors who have looked the poorer of the two sides in the opening 10 minutes, but certainly don’t deserve to be down by a goal. It’s a self-inflicted wound however as Petrzela, who gave away a needless free-kick just moments prior, made an absolute mess of the clearance. They’ll have to show some resolve to get back into it from here!
13'
I. Oblyakov gets yellow.
Oblyakov is shown an early yellow card for a nasty sliding challenge on the right wing that he went into with his foot raised.
10'
Penalty goal scored by N. Vlašić for CSKA Moscow!
VLASIC MAKES NO MISTAKE! 1-0 TO CSKA! Vlasic stares down Hruska and blasts his right-footed shot into the top-left hand corner of the goal. The keeper doesn’t stand a chance!
9'
Sigurdsson shields the ball just outside of his own penalty area and he buys a foul after going down under the weight of a push from Petrzela. It’s a slightly soft call, but it effectively ends the Plzen push and gives Akinfeev a chance to clear his lines.
7'
Play has restarted following the clash of heads in midfield with both players able to continue – a very positive sign.
3'
Vlasic gets on the end of a high ball just outside the Plzen penalty area, but Hubnik cuts off the CSKA player’s incisive pass inside the box.
1'
The home side get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE Champions League commentary of the Group G fixture between CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen!
Today’s battle of the bottom-two clubs in Group G is a fight for survival, as CSKA Moscow must win in order to stay in contention for qualification to the knockout stages. With both Roma and Real Madrid on nine points, manager Viktor Goncharenko knows that anything other than three points will hand both the Giallorossi and Los Blancos passage to the round of 16, regardless of the result in their match.
CSKA MOSCOW SUBS: Jaka Bijol, Konstantin Kuchaev, Timur Zhamaletdinov, Takuma Nishimura, Ilya Pomazun, Astemir Gordyushenko, Dmitri Efremov.
CSKA MOSCOW XI (5-4-1): Igor Akinfeev; Georgy Schennikov, Nikita Chernov, Rodrigo Becao, Kirill Nababkin, Mario Fernandes; Ivan Oblyakov, Kristijan Bistrovic, Nikola Vlasic, Arnor Sigurdsson; Fedor Chalov.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been confirmed! Let's start with the home side.
VIKTORIA PLZEN SUBS: Ludek Pernica, Jakub Reznicek, Pavel Bucha, Matus Kozacik, Tomas Horava, Milan Havel, Jan Kopic.
VIKTORIA PLZEN XI (4-2-3-1): Ales Hruska; Radim Reznik, Lukas Hejda, Roman Hubnik, David Limbersky; Patrik Hrosovsky, Roman Prochazka; Milan Petrzela, Ales Cermak, Jan Kovarik; Tomas Chory.
It’s a cold and snowy evening at the Luzhniki Stadium as both teams file out of the tunnel and onto the pitch – their breath clearly visible in the chilly air. It’ll certainly be a test of the players’ resolve in this fixture – as they’ll also be battling the elements.
Moscow met Plzen on September 19 in matchday one and the two sides played out a 2-2 draw, thanks to a 95th-minute goal from Nikola Vlasic which wrestled a point away from the Doosan Arena in the Czech Republic. A repeat of their previous result would help neither side today, so a win, either way, is the likeliest result.
Viktoria Plzen are four points off of league-leading Slavia Prague in the Czech Liga, and they enter today’s match against Moscow last place in the group, three points off of third. With passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League a mathematical impossibility, a win today would keep Pavel Vrba’s side in with a chance at a third-place finish, which would keep their European hopes alive via the Europa League.
Plzen somehow managed to earn themselves a chance to go level a minute before half-time, when Reznik was brought down by Schennikov – who otherwise had a fantastic opening half. The penalty was hit weakly and with an obvious lack of confidence, and Akinfeev made the save in what was his only real action of the game so far. At the moment, it’s looking like a rather comfortable win for CSKA, but as the late penalty proved, there’s still drama to be had in this match.
It may be 1-0, but the Plzen players should be happy with that score as they head into the dressing room at half-time despite having a chance to score themselves. The match has been thoroughly dominated by CSKA, who took the lead with a penalty after 10 minutes and didn’t look back. Rigid in defence and creative going forward, Plzen have offered no answers to stop Schennikov and Mario Fernandes on the flanks. Vlasic has been instrumental creatively, putting a number of good passes into the box for Chalov and Mario Fernandes. All the attacking play has come via the home side, who - with better finishing - could have already put the game away.
That concludes our commentary of the Champions League fixture between CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen! We hope you enjoyed it!
CKSA Moscow are in action next on December 2 when they travel to Rostov. Viktoria Plzen will feature next in the Czech Liga on the same day, when they host Sigma Olomouc.
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