UEFA Cup: Mixed results for Moscow football fans

Russian sides Spartak Moscow and CSKA both saw action in the group stages of the UEFA cup on Thursday evening. It was a topsy-turvy night on the continent with Spartak losing at home and the Army Men of CSKA winning away.

Spartak Moscow 1- 2 Udinese

Spartak played its first match in the group D stage of the UEFA cup facing Italian side Udinese at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium.

Fabio Quagliarella hit the post but was more accurate in his next attempt, scoring the first goal in the opening 12 minutes. The Italian international received Simone Pepe's pass into the middle of Spartak’s box, surging past a defender and fired a right-footed shot, which goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa couldn’t save.

Udinese remained in front for just 5 minutes, but clever use of a corner kick lead to the Muscovites equalizing against their guests. Alexandr Pavlenko delivered the ball to Clemente Rodríguez, whose right-footed shot into the top corner was unstoppable.

However, Rodríguez in the second half turned from hero into anti-hero as he fouled Quagliarella in the penalty area. The penalty was awarded and Quagliarella made the score 2-1 to Udinese, causing Pletikosa disappointment for the second time.

Spartak pushed forward for an equalizer but failed to score, despite the red card for Italian Pasquale on the 86 minute mark.

CSKA beats the Dutch

Meanwhile in group H there was much better news for CSKA fans. The 2005 UEFA Cup champions made it 2 wins out of 2, this time at the expense of Dutch side Feyenoord.

Aleksey Berezutsky got the ball rolling after 13 minutes before Giovanni Van Bronckhorst replied right before the half hour mark. However, the very much in-form Vagner Love then grabbed the advantage at 41 minutes, but not before hammering one more nail in the Dutch coffin 9 minutes before full time.

The final score in the Rotterdam stadium was CSKA Moscow 3 – 1 Feyenoord.