CSKA brook no compromise

PFC CSKA Moskva joined city rivals FC Spartak Moskva in the UEFA Champions League group stage after completing a comfortable 5-0 aggregate win against Slovakian champions MFK Ružomberok.

Brazilian flair
Although they were 3-0 up from the opening leg of the tie in Moscow, Valeri Gazzaev's side did not take their foot off the gas in Slovakia and stormed into the lead in the second leg after just eight minutes. Vágner Love's perceptive back-heel set Daniel Carvalho up to make it 4-0 on aggregate. The Brazilian duo combined again in the ninth minute with Vágner Love crashing a shot against the post. However, his reward for his early efforts was not long in coming, and Carvalho duly provided him with the decisive pass to finish from ten metres to double his side's advantage on the night just after the half-hour.

Missed chances
With CSKA in imperious form, the hosts looked subdued until the closing minutes of the first half, but failed to test Igor Akinfeev in the CSKA goal. The Russian international goalkeeper was troubled a little more after the interval, with Jan Nezmar shooting wide after 65 minutes and Akinfeev denying Igor Žofčák moments later. As substitute Peter Babnic passed up a last chance with five minutes to go, it was clear that Ružomberok would not emulate compatriots FC Artmedia's success in reaching the group stage last season, but they may yet thrive in the UEFA Cup.