Prodigy Dzagoev has CSKA purring

PFC CSKA Moskva starlet Alan Dzagoev gave another glimpse of his huge potential by scoring twice to help his side launch their UEFA Cup group-stage campaign with a 3-0 home win over RC Deportivo La Coruña.

Prodigious talent
The 18-year-old has been a sensation in Russia this season, being billed as one of the best local talents to emerge in recent years. After scoring in the ninth and 12th minutes to set CSKA on the way to a Group H victory against the Spanish club, Dzagoev said: "The first goal [a free-kick] was the best I have scored for CSKA and the second was made completely by Vágner Love. Both were important because Depor played very well."

Dream start
Born in Beslan, Dzagoev played for well-known youth team FC Krylya Sovetov SOK before making his CSKA debut in January in a pre-season tournament in Israel. It was four months later on 11 May, in his first competitive start, that the attacking midfielder truly announced himself by scoring once and creating two more in a 4-3 win against FC Khimki. He has gone on to hit 12 goals in 21 games, earning a place in Guus Hiddink's Russia squad. Many promising youngsters have burst on to the Premier-Liga scene only to flatter to deceive in the ensuing seasons, but according to CSKA coach Valeri Gazzaev, Dzagoev's breakthrough is no false dawn. He says the teenager has been "brought up well". For his part, Dzagoev said: "It's fair to say I have nothing in my life except football at this time. I got very lucky with the club as CSKA are one big family."

Team praise
Apart from his new talisman, Gazzaev was also delighted with his side's performance on Thursday and with the result, which extends the club's rich vein of form. "We played well and achieved a great win," said the trainer, whose charges have now won 15 of their last 16 matches. "Deportivo are a very good team who beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Liga. Even when we made it 2-0, the game wasn't over, but the third goal sealed the victory."

Wasted chances
Gazzaev's opposite number, Miguel Ángel Lotina, was left to lament poor finishing. "We missed several great opportunities," he said. "[Juan Carlos] Valerón was magnificent in the opening half-hour and could have scored before their first goal. I knew about the strength of CSKA and about Dzagoev's ability. We had the same number of chances as CSKA or even more, but they scored three and we scored none."