Despite being roared on by a capacity 80,000 crowd at Luzhniki Stadium, Spartak Moscow were unable to avoid going down 2-0 to English Premier League leaders Chelsea in an entertaining Champions League tie on Tuesday evening.
Both sides went into the match with 100% records in Group F, and it was Spartak who had the first genuine chance, Dmitry Kombarov shooting over after a great run into the visitor’s penalty area by Sergei Parshivlyuk in the 12th minute.
Kombarov was involved again just two minutes later, his passes finding Brazilian striker Welliton, whose shot was kept out by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
But it was Chelsea who made the breakthrough in the 22nd minute, former CSKA Moscow man Yury Zhirkov shooting into the roof of his former club’s arch rivals from just outside the box. The goal was Zhirkov’s first for Chelsea since joining the club in 2009.
Chelsea doubled their lead on the stroke of halftime, Michael Essien passing to Nicolas Anelka who finished calmly to make it 2-0.
Spartak came out all guns firing in the second half, Irish international Aiden McGeady in the thick of things as the Moscow club went close on an number of occasions. Cech was in unbeatable form though, and Spartak could find no way through.
It was Cech again who came to the rescue as time ticked down, the Dutch keeper clearing after Ashley Cole’s weak back pass had put Welliton through.
The result means Chelsea are top of Group B with 9 points. Spartak are second with six and will remain so whatever the result of the Marseille vs MSK Zilina clash. Both teams are currently pointless.
Spartak’s next Champions League tie is away to Chelsea on November 3.
MOSCOW, October 19 (RIA Novosti)
