Late Berezutski strike stuns Roma and keeps CSKA hopes alive

CSKA Moscow's Vasili Berezutski scored in the third minute of stoppage time to grab a 1-1 Champions League draw with AS Roma.

CSKA looked to be heading for a damaging defeat at an empty Arena Khimki as visitors Roma led through captain Francesco Totti's first-half free-kick.

However, with the hosts' attacks becoming more and more desperate, captain Berezutski found himself on the left wing, and his inswinging cross evaded everyone in the box - including Roma keeper Morgan De Sanctis - and nestled in the far corner.

It was little more than CSKA deserved following a committed second-half display that yielded good chances for Ahmed Mousa, Alan Dzagoev and Georgi Shennikov.

Roma, though, will feel they did enough to win and should have wrapped up victory when Adem Ljajic went clean through on goal in the final 10 minutes. Keeper Igo Akinfeev stood firm though and allowed his side to claim an unlikely point that keeps their Group E hopes alive.

12' - BIG CHANCE FOR CSKA - Musa picks up De Sanctis' poor clearance and finds Seydou Doumbia in the area, but the striker is crowded out.

36' - CHANCE FOR ROMA - Alessandro Florenzi latches onto a give and go from Totti but lashes wildly across goal.

39' - GOOD SAVE DE SANCTIS - Doumbia goes clean through but he cannot find a way past the Roma keeper.

43' - GOAL FOR ROMA! - Berezutski's foul on Florenzi is clinically punished as Totti blasts the resulting free kick straight into the top corner.

59' - GREAT CHANCE FOR ROMA - Nainggolan finds himself clean through on goal but he drags his shot wide.

80' - LJAJIC SHOULD MAKE IT TWO - Akinfeev is at full stretch to stop the winger putting Roma out of sight.

90+3' - GOAL FOR CSKA! - Roman Eremenko sweeps the ball out to Berezutski who swings in a cross that evades Dzagoev but creeps into the net.

Akinfeev has now let in at least one goal in 26 consecutive CL games, going back eight years.

Totti's goal was his 17th in Europe's premier club competition, nine more than any other Roma player.

Have Roma let CSKA and CIty back into the race for second? With seconds left in Moscow, Roma were all-but home and hosed in Group E. A win would have meant anything other than a win for Man City against Bayern Munich would have put them through. Now though, it is all to play for. Will they rue their missed opportunities?

Igor Akinfeev (CSKA): He may not have kept that illusive clean sheet, but Akinfeev made several saves that kept his side in the game and ultimately the competition.

CSKA: Akinfeev 8, Berezutski 7, Ignashevich 7, Schennikov 7, Mario Fernandes 6, Eremenko 7, Natcho 7, Cauna 5, Dzagoev 6, Doumbia 5, Musa 6 Subs: Milanov 5, Tosic 5

ROMA: De Sanctis 6, Holebas 7, Astori 7, Manolas 7, De Rossi 6, Keita 6, Nainggolan 7, Florenzi 7, Totti 7, Gervinho 6, Ljajic 6 Subs: Iturbe 5, Strootman 6, Pjanic 6