CSKA MOSCOW ............................................................ 1 Moscow make Magpies pay for missing goal chances
NEWCASTLE United squandered a host of chances which cost them victory over CSKA Moscow.
The Magpies were looking to sign off from their trip to the Costa Blanca in style but lacked the killer touch where and when it mattered.
Even before Salomon Rondon had opened the scoring, United should have been ahead and some fluffed chances after the number 9’s strike left the door wide open for CSKA to get back into the game.
The clash in southern Spain was played out in difficult, windy conditions
United, who opened with 3-4-3 formation, had a great chance after two minutes when Kenedy played in Rondon, but the Brazilian waited too long to play his pass and the ex-malaga star was unable to connect.
On six minutes, Almiron played in Diame but he fired high over the bar from close range.
Ki was the next to get a glimpse of goal after Kenedy slipped the ball to him but he also misfired and his effort was sent high and wide.
On 16 minutes, Florian Lejeune started a great move by playing a crossfield ball to Deandre Yedlin.
The American then clipped in a right-wing cross before Rondon took a touch by chesting it down and then drilled it in the bottom corner to put the Magpies 1-0 up. Despite some good moments in the final third after taking the lead, Miguel Almiron and Kenedy could not find a way through. And the lack of quality in and around the penalty area which has been an issue for much of the season returned to haunt Rafa Benitez’s side again. CSKA were able to take advantage of United’s weakness and four minutes before the break, United were caught out after a defensive lapse.
Fyodor Chalov forced Karl Darlow into a fine save before former Hull City man Abel Hernandez stabbed home in the box.
Darlow was called into action again moments later as Chalov burst into the box but the Toon keeper rushed out to block.
United made 11 changes at half-time, with Benitez giving the majority of his squad a run-out. Only Martin Dubravka, Ciaran Clark and Jonjo Shelvey were unused.
Newcastle had a great chance at the start of the second half as Joselu rounded the goalkeeper but Rodrigo Becao cleared off the line. Joselu found himself clean through a couple of minutes later but despite only having the keeper to beat, he fired softly into his hands. On 66 minutes, Isaac Hayden weaved his way into the final third to win a free-kick. However, despite much discussion with his teammates, Matt Ritchie could only hit the set-piece straight at the goalkeeper.