CSKA Moscow spring 2-1 surprise in Seville
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CSKA Moscow upset Sevilla 2-1 on Tuesday to send the Russian team into the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years.
A well-struck Keisuke Honda free-kick ended Sevilla's hopes of making their quarterfinal debut and secured victory for the well-organized Muscovites to put them into the last eight for the first time since 1992-93.
After a 1-1 draw in Moscow last month, goals from CSKA's Tomas Necid and Sevilla's Diego Perotti had the sides tied at 2-2 on aggregate at the break before Honda's 55th-minute strike flew into the top corner off Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop's net.
"The players did very well to stop Sevilla getting many clear chances," a beaming CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky said.
"It's hard to analyse the match much at this early stage but I am very proud that my team has made it through to the quarters."
Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano squandered a chance to put the home side ahead in only the third minute at a noisy Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
The Brazilian international collected a whipped Jesus Navas cross from the right but hit his first-time shot straight at CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev.
The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages and lively Japan midfielder Honda forced a smart save from Palop in the 27th minute.
Six minutes before the break, a mistake by Serbian defender Ivica Dragutinovic let in Necid, who rifled a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Sevilla were level within two minutes. A long Palop punt bounced through to Navas and he crossed for Perotti to poke the ball past Akinfeyev.
Honda's winner came from a long-range free-kick which Palop failed to deal with as the ball ricocheted into the top corner off the keeper's fists.
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