CSKA stuns Real Madrid with late equalizer

Moscow, Russia – Real Madrid was left stunned in Moscow as 1 draw in Champions League play on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had given Madrid a one-goal advantage for the return leg at the Bernabeu, but Pontus Wernbloom stole an equalizer in the dying seconds of his debut to help CSKA savage a draw.

The visitors looked lively from the start, coming within inches of opening the scoring in the 17th minute.

Ronaldo and Sami Khedira combined well to play in Gonzalo Higuain, but the Argentine's effort was foiled by Sergei Chepchugov. The Russian stopper conceded a rebound, but quickly tipped Higuain's second attempt over the bar.

Madrid finally grabbed the lead 11 minutes later. Fabio Coentrao's cross fell to Ronaldo on the right side of the box after it was not properly dealt with by Zoran Tosic. The Portuguese attacker controlled the bouncing ball and struck a half-volley past Chepchugov and into the side netting.

Ronaldo nearly doubled the lead in the 76th minute after beating the offside trap and getting through on goal, but Chepchugov produced another fine save to turn the ball out for a corner and keep the deficit to just one goal.

Chepchugov's heroics proved to be vital as CSKA was able to pull one back in second-half stoppage time. A late free kick was headed back in front of net, directly into the path of Wernbloom. The Swedish defender then smashed a shot past Iker Casillas to mark his first CSKA appearance with a crucial goal.

The two sides will rekindle their Round of 16 tie on March 14 for the return leg at the Bernabeu. CSKA can advance to the quarterfinals with a draw in which each side scores more than one goal, or a win.