CSKA make champions league at expense of sporting Lisbon

Aug 31, 2015 CSKA Moscow recently knocked Sporting Lisbon out of the Champions League play off stage, winning 4-3 on aggregate.

On the first leg of the play-offs, Sporting Lisbon defeated CSKA Moscow by 2 goals to 1, after the Russians missed a penalty at the Estádio José Alvalade stadium. However the Russian outfit made an inspirational come back courtesy of goal from Seydou Doumbia and Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa.

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky, who also doubles as interim coach for the Russian national side, was full of praise for his squad.

“That is understood, that we had difficulties with the Champions’ League qualification,” he said. “But maybe it is always this way in the Champions’ League. So I am very happy that we managed to take over the match that was going badly, and show the character, skills, persistence, will. I am very grateful to the guys for what they have done.”

On the other end of the field, Sporting boss Jorge Jesus was also full of praises for the Russian side, but however blamed referee Pavel Kralovec for his side’s defeat.

“We were playing with a good, powerful team,” he said. “Sporting is a good team and CSKA is a good team. Of course, both teams had chances and were very eager to enter the main draw. But in this case I can say that refereeing in both matches had negative effect on the performance of our team and I will stand by these words.”