CSKA Moscow saw off Fakel Voronezh 1-0 at VEB Arena on Friday in a Premier League encounter that hinged on a single moment. The home side moved to 15 points, still unbeaten in seven games with four wins and three draws. Fakel remain rooted to 16th on just two points from seven outings, having failed to win any of their matches this season.
The match was decided in the 71st minute when Ivan Oblyakov converted a penalty to end a barren spell for CSKA. Before that, there was a moment that stayed with anyone watching closely. Igor Yurganov put Fakel ahead in the 27th minute, only for the goal to be cancelled by VAR and for the visitors to be left staring at a result they had not earned.
And here's the thing about that incident — it shifted the entire complexion of the game. Fakel had to chase the match after being pegged back, and CSKA grew into it as the half progressed. The hosts took the lead in possession, with 56 per cent of the ball, and began to probe with more purpose.
Fakel's keeper made two saves while CSKA's did not have to work at all. The visitors managed six shots off target but none on, which tells you something about their attacking threat. CSKA created one big chance and hit the target three times out of nine attempts, while their expected goals figure of 1.02 suggests they were in the right territory.
By then, the cards had started to accumulate on both sides. Matheus Alves and Vladislav Torop received yellows for CSKA in the 46th and 54th minutes respectively, while Fakel saw Vyacheslav Yakimov, Axel Gnapi and Imran Firov cautioned. Albert Gabaraev picked up a late booking in stoppage time, bringing the visitors' total to three.
The substitutions came thick and fast after the hour mark, with both managers looking to change the dynamic. CSKA brought on Matija Popović, Aleksandr Sutormin and Denis Krugovoy, while Fakel introduced Ilya Alshin and Nikolai Giorgobiani among others. The game settled into a rhythm where CSKA controlled the tempo and Fakel tried to hold on.
CSKA's pass completion was respectable with 363 successful attempts from 447, while Fakel managed 256 from 355. The home side made 19 crosses with two landing for them, and they won 21 aerial duels out of 40. Fakel were slightly more active in tackles with 22 compared to CSKA's eight, but it did not translate into meaningful possession.
The result keeps CSKA in the hunt for a top-four finish, sitting second in the table with a clean record against defeat. Fakel's situation grows more precarious by the week, and they will need to find a way to turn draws into wins if they want to avoid trouble. The gap between the two sides was on display once again, and this time it came down to a moment of quality that CSKA seized.