UEFA Cup Aston Villa and CSKA Moscow (2009)

Aston Villa drew 1-1 at home to CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday night.

John Carew handed Aston Villa a UEFA Cup lifeline with a second-half equaliser in the last-32 first-leg match with CSKA Moscow at Villa Park.

The Norway international struck his eighth goal of the campaign after Vagner Love had broken the deadlock with a fine effort.

Martin O’Neill’s men dominated the second 45 minutes but the visitors somehow survived the onslaught.

It was a classic confrontation contrasting the technical skills and movement of the Russian side and the more direct but equally threatening approach of Villa.

Always posed

Vagner Love and Yury Zhirkov always posed a menace for the Villa back four in what was CSKA’s first competitive match since 4th December.

But Villa deserve massive credit for the way they responded in such positive fashion after going behind.

They dominated the second 45 minutes with Ashley Young a constant threat on the left flank and supplying a stream of dangerous crosses.

Gareth Barry also drove his side on from midfield in typically inspirational fashion while Gabriel Agbonlahor’s pace also gave CSKA a lot to think about.

21st February 2009