CSKA Moscow remain in second in Group B after claiming a 0-0 with Trabzonspor in Turkey.
Trabzonspor held at home
CSKA Moscow remain in second in Group B after claiming a 0-0 with Trabzonspor in Turkey, despite being down to ten-men.
In a game which saw the referee produce six cards, CSKA striker Seydou Doumbia was dismissed on 73 minutes for a second bookable offence to leave the Russian team to play the remaining quarter with 10 men.
But Trabzonspor, who slipped to third after the 3-0 defeat in Moscow last time out failed to capitalise despite a nervous finale in which both teams came close to snatching a winner.
After Inter Milan beat bottom placed Lille 2-1, the Turks remain in third on five points - level with second-placed CSKA and four behind the Italians.
Goalless
Trabzonspor appeared to have their minds elsewhere in the first half as CSKA threatened to take the lead in the opening exchanges and they failed to create any goalscoring opportunities.
After just two minutes Doumbia had his effort cleared off the line by Giray Kacar after he ran on to a through ball and rounded goalkeeper Tolga Zengin.
Vagner Love then had a shot blocked, and he tested Zengin again with a 20 metre drive which the keeper tipped over the bar.
It was more of the same for Trabzonspor following the restart and coach Senol Gunes opted to shake things up with a double substitution for the last half hour.
Brazilian Paulo Henrique replaced Halil Altintop and compatriot Alanzinho came on for Serkan Balci.
Barely 10 minutes later Alanzinho had hearts racing when he set off on a mazy run past Vasili Berezutski to give Vladimir Gabulov his first taste of action although the CSKA keeper did well to hold the Brazilian's shot.
With the home fans calling for goals, Gunes sent on Aykut Akgun for Mierzejewski in an attempt to prise open the Russian defence.
Deadlock
However it was CSKA who came closest to breaking the deadlock, with Love brilliantly holding possession and finishing off a neat exchange with Aleksandrs Cauna to test Zengin with a snap shot which the keeper did well to save.
Two minutes later Ondrej Celustka did well to find Yilmaz when he cut in from the right, but the Turk's first-timer from 10 metres out went straight to Gabulov.
In the dying seconds the visitors squandered a golden chance to snatch the winner when Berezutski rose to meet Alan Dzagoev's free-kick to head just wide of the post.
| Trabzonspor |
Team Statistics |
CSKA Moscow |
| 0 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 6 |
Corners |
4 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
14 |
| 9 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
1 |
| 70.8 |
Passing Success |
73.1 |
| 26 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 76.9 |
Tackles Success |
68.2 |
| 46.3 |
Possession |
53.7 |
| 56.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
43.6 |
| 380 |
Total Passes |
458 |
| 21 |
Total Crosses |
10 |
| 204 |
Lost Balls |
206 |
| 57 |
Recoveries |
44 |
|
