Roma have been denied a vital win in Group E of the Champions League by conceding a late goal to draw 1-1 away to CSKA Moscow.
The Italians would have given themselves a big chance of reaching the last 16 had they won the match, but a CSKA equaliser in the fourth minute of injury time has given Manchester City renewed hope of making it out of the group.
© Getty Images
Following a low-key opening, the first proper chance of the game came on 18 minutes as Alan Dzagoev shot wide from 25 yards. Roma then tested the opposition goalkeeper midway through the half when Radja Nainggolan blasted over from long range.
Roma struggled to get forward as much as they would have liked to as the first half moved on, with the likes of Francesco Totti, Gervinho and Adem Ljajic all looking isolated in advanced areas.
However, a good chance came on 36 minutes as Totti set Alessandro Florenzi clear, only for the midfielder's inviting cross to evade everyone inside the penalty area.
CSKA responded instantly when Seydou Doumbia found himself through on goal with just Morgan De Sanctis to beat, but the forward shot straight at the goalkeeper.
The Russians were made to pay with two minutes remaining in the first half as Totti gave Roma the lead with a powerful free kick from the edge of the box that beat the goalkeeper.
A slow-burning second half came alive on the hour when Nainggolan missed a glorious chance to put Roma 2-0 up by poking the ball the wrong side of the post after jinking his way through the CSKA defence.
CSKA looked a shadow of themselves after the break, struggling to make things happen in the final third, though they came close to equalising on 70 minutes when Ahmed Musa's effort was pushed away by De Sanctis.
The hosts were spurred on by this opening, with Dzagoev directing a header at De Sanctis before Ljajic was denied at the other end during the final minutes.
Roma looked to be heading for an important win, but CSKA found an equaliser in the final seconds of stoppage time when Vasiliy Berezutski's cross missed everyone and found the far corner.
Jack Prescott
