No Love lost as Villa face UEFA Cup struggle

Aston Villa face a daunting task to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw by CSKA Moscow in the first leg of their last 32 tie at Villa Park on Wednesday.

Martin O’Neill’s side needed a second half equaliser from John Carew to scramble a draw after Brazilian striker Vagner Love put CSKA in front with his ninth goal in seven UEFA Cup matches and 25th in 41 career UEFA Cup matches.

Villa will now have to win a tough assignment in Moscow in the second leg if they are to progress.

The Premier League club have ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League this season but they still have some way to go before they are ready to cut it among the best in Europe.

Sunday’s FA Cup defeat at Everton had been the worst possible start to a crucial week for Villa.

As well this European encounter, they also face Chelsea at home on Saturday and Blues owner Roman Abramovich and the club’s new manager, Guus Hiddink were among the spectators.

But it was CSKA, managed by Brazil’s Zico, who caught the eye with some fine midfield inter-play in the early stages though.

Although this was CSKA’s first competitive match since December 4, there was no sign of any rustiness among the Russians.

They took the lead in the 18th minute as Love notched his 21st goal of the season.

Yury Zhirkov played the ball into space behind Curtis Davies and Zat Knight and into the path of Love, and he coolly slotted past Brad Guzan.

Villa immediately raised the tempo of their play in response and Craig Gardner tested Igor Akinfeev with a low strike.

Gabriel Agbonlahor had a chance to equalise after 29 minutes when Ashley Young’s cross picked out the England striker, but he failed to get a firm contact on his header.

Young supplied another dangerous cross moments later but Carew headed over from close range.

Love was a constant menace and he shook off Knight’s challenge before releasing Zhirkov whose 20 yard drive was only just too high.

But Villa also were posing a threat and Gardner headed over from Young’s cross.

Villa were now enjoying their best spell of the game and Akinfeev had to turn aside a dipping free-kick from Young.

Aleksei Berezutski could have doubled CSKA’s lead after 67 minutes when he found himself with only Guzan to beat after being put through by Alan Dzagoev but he pushed his shot wide.

It proved a costly miss for after 69 minutes Carew put Villa back on level terms.

Gardner chased down a cross from Young which flew across the box, turned it back to Carew and the Norwegian international made no mistake with a first time drive.

Villa pushed forward for a winner and Young went close but it to be a frustrating end as CSKA held on.