CSKA rallies to beat Plzen 3-2 in Champions League

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) Zoran Tosic scored one goal and made another to help CSKA Moscow come from behind to beat Viktoria Plzen 3-2 in Group D of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Frantisek Rajtoral gave Plzen an early lead, but strikes by Tosic and Keisuke Honda put CSKA in front before an own goal by Plzen's Radim Reznik in the 78th minute put the match beyond the Czech side's reach. Marek Bakos added the visitors' second goal in stoppage time.

"It was a must-win game for us after our scoreless series," said CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky, whose side had opened with a 3-0 defeat by Bayern Munich two weeks ago and has lost its last three Russian league games without scoring.

"We conceded a quick goal because of tension after past losses. Viktoria had two more opportunities but we managed to come back and win. Yet, we still have to put the team back on track."

Rajtoral put Plzen ahead after just four minutes, beating the diving Igor Akinfeev after the ball ricocheted off defender Sergei Ignashevich.

The visitors could easily have extended their lead in the 14th minute when Akinfeev failed to collect a volley from the left and Daniel Kolar was allowed a header that flew wide of the right post. Two minutes later, Bakos beat Akinfeev in a one-on-one, but Pontus Wernbloom cleared the ball in front of an open goal.

CSKA equalized with its first scoring chance, courtesy of Tosic, who hit the target with a low left-foot shot that took a slight deflection off Raytoral in the 19th.

It was CSKA's first goal in five matches.

Keisuke Honda then put CSKA 2-1 up just 10 minutes later, beating Matus Kozacik in a one-on-one after collecting Tosic's pass.

Ahmed Musa hit the right post of the visitors' goal in the 49th as the Russian champion continued to dominate the game.

CSKA increased its lead when Reznik scored an own goal with a backpass to the keeper, who failed to stop the ball with his right foot. Bakos then headed home the Czech side's second goal in injury time.

The match was originally due to be played at Arena Khimki in Moscow's suburbs, but heavy rains in the region in recent weeks ruined the pitch. UEFA representatives picked Petrovsky stadium in St. Petersburg as a replacement.