CSKA 3-1 Sporting (aggregate: 4-3)
Sporting failed to fulfil one of their season objectives, which was to qualify for the Champions League, in Moscow tonight. It was all the more disappointing after a perfect first-half performance and a Téo Gutiérrez goal had seemingly set the Lions on the road to victory in the tie.
But CSKA roared back in the second half, scoring three goals without reply to win through 4-3 on aggregate.
The Lions can justifiably point to refereeing decisions that went against them (as in the first leg). CSKA's first goal was scored by Doumbia with his arm and Slimani's late header was dubiously ruled out. However, more worryingly as regards the rest of the season, Jorge Jesus's men were outrun, outmuscled and outfought in the second 45 minutes as Sporting's players seemed to be physically inferior to those of the home side.
Jesus pulled a surprise with his starting line-up as striker Slimani was left on the bench and the midfield was reinforced with Adrien, Aquilani, João Mário, Bryan Ruiz and Carrillo populating the centre of the pitch.
Sporting make impressive start
And things started promisingly for the Portuguese team. Sporting kept possession impressively, spending large spells camped inside the CSKA defensive half, with the Russians seemingly content to try and get the goal they needed to go into the lead in the tie on the counter-attack, a weapon they had used to devastating effect at the Alvalade last week.
Sporting probed dangerously, albeit without creating clear chances. On a rare breakaway Doumbia flashed an effort narrowly wide midway through the half, however, the Russians' strategy of soaking up pressure backfired as they failed to create trouble for Sporting's back line, and in the 36th minute the Lions got their reward for their positive approach. João Pereira slipped a wonderful throughball to Téo Gutiérrez, and the Colombian striker made no mistake with an unerring finish from a tight angle to give Sporting the lead on the night and a 3-1 advantage on aggregate.
Sporting held on comfortably until half time, but early in the second period CSKA pulled a goal back to put them right back in contention. A free-kick on the left was hit low towards the six-yard box, Adrien's attempted clearance went in the direction of his own goal and Doumbia managed to scramble the ball past Patrício. TV replays showed he had knocked the ball into the net with his arm, but the goal stood.
As one would expect, CSKA began to apply heavy pressure. The Russians were not exactly peppering Patrício's goal, but the game was now almost entirely being played in Sporting's defensive half, with the Lions disappearing as an attacking threat.
Musa and Doumbia cause havoc
CSKA forwards Musa and Doumbia caused Sporting no end of problems throughout the two matches, and the two combined to score in the 72nd minute for CSKA, the former speeding free behind the Sporting defence and crossing for Doumbia to score his 3rd goal of the tie and make it all level on aggregate.
The hosts took their foot off the pedal upon levelling the tie, and Sporting enjoyed a bright ten-minute spell, also boosted by the introduction of Slimani who came on for Gutiérrez. And the big Algerian appeared to have scored what would surely have been a winning goal for the Lisbon club, powering home a header directly from a corner, only for the effort to be ruled out with the linesman ruling that the cross had gone out of play before curling into the six-yard box and finding the striker's head.
Sporting went from joy to despair in three minutes as Dzagoev slipped a wonderfully weighted pass into the path of Musa, who slammed it past Patrício. There was no way back for the visitors, who had João Mário sent off in stoppage time for crudely stopping yet another lethal counter-attack instigated by Musa.
Consequences?
Sporting will play in the Europa League, and it remains to be seen whether missing out on the Champions League millions will have an impact on the squad, with speculation continuing to surround the futures of William Carvalho and André Carrillo.
by Tom Kundert
CSKA Moscovo: Akinfeev, Mário Fernandes, Ignashevich, V. Berezutski, Schennikov, Wernbloom, Dzagoev, Tosic, Eremenko, Musa (Milanov 90'), Doumbia (V. Berezutski, 86')
Sporting: Rui Patrício, João Pereira, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Jonathan Silva, Aquilani (Montero, 89'), Adrien, Carrillo, João Mário, Brian Ruiz (Mané, 89'), Teo Gutiérrez (Slimani, 68')
Goals:
[0-1] Téo Gutiérrez, 36'
[1-1] Doumbia, 50'
[2-1] Doumbia, 72'
[3-1] Musa, 86'
