Harchester United have lost the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Last 16 tie 3-2 away to CSKA Moscow.
The Dragons now have to overcome the deficit in the return leg at the Dragons Lair in 3 weeks time and will also help that many of their first team regulars will be back by then.
United were once again without Ryan Naysmith, Liam Mackay and Jay Marney due to injury.
However, Reijmond Van Den Bergh, who had looked likely to be missing this game after picking
up a knee injury against West Brom at the weekend, was a surprise inclusion on the bench - courtesy of the fine work of club physio Simon Shakeshaft.
The game started with United kicking off their first game in Moscow since their UEFA Cup Semi Final 1st Leg back in 2002 - and we all know how that ended up in the 2nd leg.
Dragons keeper Thomas Heikkinen came up for a bit of criticism at the week for his late error against West Brom that saw the Baggies score and he didn't start off this game too well.
Gerwaint Thomas was busy tackling Keisuke Honda until Heikkinen took it upon himself to collide into them both and clear the ball. It was untidy and uncertain, but it eventually did the job for the time being.
The Dragons had their first chance of the game in the 12th minute when Julian Moore played a throughball to Kieron Hartson, but the young striker could only hit high and wide.
Hartson has yet to show the same confidence and form that he was showing in the FA Cup 4th Round Replay against Notts County last week.
French midfielder Patrice Blanc was booked on 26 minutes for a poor challenge on CSKA captain Segei Ignashevich.
Keeper Heikkinen went some way to getting back his confidence with a calmly taken brave save in the 29th minute when he snatched the ball from the feet of Seydou Doumbia to stop to Ivorian making it 1-0.
In the 32nd minute, Harchester United were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box when captain Johnny Carlisle was pulled down by Aleksei Berezutskiy.
Just like at the weekend, Free Kick duty was covered by Marcos Rosteen - and just like the weekend, this effort was wasted high over the bar too as the score remained 0-0.
But not for long, as Luiz Costa was brought down in the CSKA Moscow penalty area and the referee gave Harchester United a penalty.
Captain Johnny Carlisle calmly stepped up and slotted the spot kick into the back of the net to put the Dragons 1-0 up in Moscow!
Moments later, Carlisle's game came to an end as a collision with A.Berezutskiy saw the Dragons captain clutching his knee. He was later replaced at half time by Anton Young.
Only 5 minutes after Heikkinen had pulled of a fine one on one save from Honda, the Dragons keeper found himself at fault as he dropped a soft effort from Tomas Necid into the path Doumbia who slotted the ball into the empty net to make it 1-1 on the edge of half time.
SECOND HALF...
CSKA started the second half much stronger than the visitors as Anton Young in particular found it difficult to adapt to the minus-14'c temperatures, Necid getting the better of him a couple of times but with no end product.
Doumbia came close to doubling his tally for CSKA, but the Dragons were saved by the post as the score remained at 1-1.
The Dragons then started to pick up the pace a little as Kieron Hartson came close with a header in the 63rd minute, but a fine save was produced by keeper Sergey Chepchugov.
Julian Moore hit the crossbar in the 72nd minute as the secore still remained at 1-1.
But then in the 78th minute, Thomas Heikkinen attempted to collect the ball from the feet of Seydou Doumbia inside his own area but could only parry the ball into the deadly path of Tomas Necid who could do nothing but score as the Czech striker made it 2-1 to the home side.
In the 85th minute, the Dragons decided to take a chance on Reimond Van Den Bergh who wasn't 100% match fit before kick off.
The gamble was starting to look like it would pay off as he began getting the better of the CSKA defence until a clearance from Semberas found Necid to go on a break and score to make it 3-1.
The Dragons looked totally down and out until, in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Van Den Bergh did yet again what he does best - created a chance out of nothing to score and make it 3-2 right at the death.
So, Harchester United had lost 3-2 in Moscow - but in 3 weeks time, the Dragons should have players back and they also have 2 away goals in their favour in front of a home crowd.
However, how long will Johnny Carlisle be out for now? Is it minor or severe damage to his knee? And what about the clear lack of confidence to Thomas Heikkinen at the moment? These questions need answers!
Final Score: CSKA Moscow - 3... Harchester United - 2.
Next Up: Liverpool (Away) in the FA Cup 5th Round.
Harchester.TV - 14th February 2012 |
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UEFA Champions League -
Last 16, 1st Leg
CSKA MOSCOW - 3
Doumbia 44
Necid 78, 89
....
HARCHESTER UNITED - 2
Carlisle 36 (Pen)
Van Den Bergh 90+3
....
Att: 18,001
CSKA Moscow: Chepchugov, V.Berezutskiy, Ignaschevich, A.Berezutskiy, Schennikov (Odiah 81), Mamaev, Aldonin (Semberas 84), Dzagoev (Tosic 63), Honda, Necid, Doumbia
Subs: Oliseh, Tosic, Nababkin, Semberas, Odiah, Gonzalez, Vasin
Harchester United: Heikkinen, Thomas, Carlisle (Young 45), Kirovski, Misimovic, Porter (White 67), Moore, Rosteen, Blanc, Hartson (Van Den Bergh 85), Costa
Subs: Fuentes, Young, Tyson, Rojas, Beckham, White, Van Den Bergh |
