CSKA on song against Besiktas in Moscow

CSKA Moscow bounced back from defeat to Wolfsburg to record a 2-1 win over Turkish champions Besiktas in their second Champions League Group B game here on Wednesday.

Midfielders Alan Dzagoev and Milos Krasic scored for the hosts to secure all three points and take them level with group leaders Manchester United and Wolfsburg prior to the leaders’ meeting in Manchester later on Wednesday.

Ismail Koybasi was on target for the guests, who lost their opening game 1-0 at home to United while CSKA were being beaten 3-0 in Wolfsburg.

CSKA stunned the visitors by taking the lead inside six minutes when the highly-rated Dzagoev fired a 25-yard screamer into the top left-handed corner past the outstretched hands of Besiktas goalkeeper Rustu Recber.

The visitors, who came into the match with a positive record against Russian teams (two wins and one draw), replied with a shot by Slovak winger Filip Holosko but the Red Army side’s ‘keeper Igor Akinfeyev repelled his attempt.

After the interval Besiktas picked up steam and seized the initiative, pinning the hosts back in an attempt to level and they created a clear opportunity in the 57th minute for Nihat Kahveci but the striker spurned the chance by failing to hit the ball.

CSKA replied with a series of threats and made it 2-0 through Krasic, who fired the ball home under Rustu Recber with a 15-yard angled shot after a piece of good individual work in the 61st minute.

Defender Koybasi netted a consolation in injury time but it was not enough to save the day for Besiktas.