Nigerian Musa helps CSKA back on track in Champions League

PSV were offered hope by the fact CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev had not kept a clean sheet in 32 Champions League matches with his last shut-out coming nearly nine years ago.

The hosts were cruising after a dominant first-half display and goals from Ahmed Musa and a double from Seydou Doumbia put them 3-0 up at halftime in the Group B encounter. His cross on the run found the unmarked Doumbia, who powered a header beyond Jeroen Zoet.

Fifteen minutes later CSKA were awarded a penalty after Zoet brought down Tosic in the area and Doumbia netted his second of the match sending the visiting ‘keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Maxime Lestienne gave the Eredivisie champions a lifeline on the hour, prodding in from close range after good work down the right by Adam Maher.

Whatever Phillip Cocu said to his players at half-time worked as his team improved dramatically.

PSV’s Santiago Arias leaves after being sent off the pitch by…

PSV caused one of the biggest shocks of this season’s competition by beating Manchester United 2-1 at home on matchday one.

“So, my compliments for the second half”, Cocu told PSV’s official website.

PSV went into the game without key men Andres Guardado and Luuk de Jong, and the absence of the two leaders was evident in a first half that saw CSKA Moscow tear the Dutch side’s defence apart time after time, and go into the break 3-0 up.

“But in the second half everything went a bit astray and we had a nervous ending due to our own slackness”. After the first half, it was hard to show what we were capable of, but we managed to do that.

“Of course I’m happy with the result but there’s also a certain displeasure because of our poor performance in the second period”.