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One of the hallmarks of a champion is the ability to respond under pressure and navigate the difficult road of adversity. Through each season the fortunes of clubs will rise and fall in varying degrees but it how they respond to challenge will establish the mettle of what they are made-of and whether they are worthy of standing on the victors podium.
With that in-mind CSKA supporters will be buoyed by the Army-Men’s impressive play in defeating Beşiktaş 2-1 at Luzhniki Stadium in Group B action of the Champions League and wonder if a late season rally to wrestle the Russian crown from Rubin Kazan is in the offing.
Following the weekend’s difficult loss to Zenit Saint Petersburg, the Muscovites were in less-than optimal state. Despite the obvious high quality in their line-up, it seemed like when opportunity knocked CSKA lacked the confidence to attack with ruthless intent and carelessly let points slip away.
That all changed on Monday evening as on the world stage the Army-Men were bold and kicked the door of opportunity down and grabbed three points against the visiting Turkish champions.
From the weekend line-up, Juande Ramos summoned Chidi Odiah, Pavel Mamaev and Czech international Tomáš Necid into the starting eleven with stirring impact. Match-day referee Manuel Mejuto González' whistle marked the start of the Army-Men's charge, with a fearless vision going forward led by teen virtuoso Alan Dzagoev.
Though it is easy to forget at times that the young Russian international is still a teenager, he showed courage and a vicious attacking intent the moment the match started. Unshackled from doubt, CSKA marched forward and the young attacker gave his side the 1-0 lead at the seventh minute via a top-shelf strike.
Initiated off Pavel Mamaev's long ball that was eventually played on by Tomáš Necid to him, the nineteen year-old created space to his right before firing a dipping effort into the net past 'keeper Rüştü Reçber from twenty-seven metres. The goal did not deter CSKA's efforts as they tore into the opposition and narrowly missed doubling the margin a few minutes later as Tomáš Necid's header of a Miloš Krasić cross was denied by the visiting 'keeper.
Just past the half-hour Beşiktaş' efforts were reigned-in as Slovakian international Filip Hološko, who clearly was their most active player early, was forced to leave the match to injury and replaced by veteran Yusuf Şimşek. Gradually the visitors crept out of their shell, with Mert Nobre forcing Igor Akinfeev into action but the match slowed to the break with CSKA holding the lead firmly.
At the re-start Anton Grigoriev was called in for Alexey Berezutsky at left-back but it was very clear the visitors were prepared to claw back into the match. After a number of advances came up empty for Beşiktaş, CSKA started to show great resolve going forward and a minute past the hour Serbian international Miloš Krasić showed his pedigree as he raced into the right side of the box, past Matteo Ferrari, before drilling the ball into the net for the 2-0 lead.
Intent on absorbing pressure, Juande Ramos quickly brought in Elvir Rahimić for Tomáš Necid and fifteen minutes later Georgiy Schennikov stepped in for Mark González as CSKA looked to lock down the match. The plan worked to perfection until the second minute of added-time when the visitors notched a consolation goal as Ekrem Dağ sent in İsmail Köybaşı's cross.
Without further incident the match concludes 2-1 in CSKA Moscow’s favour, their first Champions League victory in home soil since October 2006 and more importantly learned a lesson of playing with bold, unbridled confidence.
Prepared by John Davies
