Aston Villa are out of this season's UEFA cup after going down to CSKA Moscow at the Luzinkhi Stadium by 2-0. They lose the tie with an aggreate 3-1 scoreline, having drawn 1-1 with the Russians at Villa Park. After a goalless first half, Yuri Zhirkov put the hosts in front on the hour mark and the inevitable Wagner Love added a second in injury time to cap a rather convincing victory for the 2005 champions.

Zico reconducted the same side that got the draw at Villa park, with the exception of Semberas who came back from suspension to replace Aldonin in holding midfield. Villa boss Martin O'Neill rested eight of his regular first team players, handing starts to youngsters Mark Albrington and Barry Bannan in wide midfield. Nathan Delfouneso started on his own upfront, with regulars Gardner and Sidwell in support. The only regulars in view were Davies and Knight in central defence and stand in captain Luke Young at right back. Mustafa Salifou also got a run out in holding midfield.  

Martin O'Neill's young charges didn't seem to have trouble adapting to the freezing cold and the pastic pitch in the intial stages and started reasonably well, but were at odds conjure up any significant openings against a well drilled side. Only Delfouneso tested Akinfeev with a tame volley after a quarter of an hour. CSKA Moscow, who were just coming back to competitive football in this tie, were marginally dominant throughout the first period but Brad Guzan in goal for Villa hardly had to make a save in the first half. Vasily Berezutsky had a couple of wide headers and Zhirkoz and Krasic had efforts that sailed over. Dzagoev and Wagner Love in the attack were loitering with intent and had a few glimpses of goal but it remained goalless at half time.

Villa needed a goal to swing the tie their way and Martin O'Neill went two upfront for the second period, introducing  Marlon Harewood in place of Salifou. It was CSKA, however who went up a gear in the frirst quarter. After Gardner had tested Akinfeev early on, it was all CSKA and Zhirkov lost a one on one with Guzan just short of hourk mark.  He made no mistake shortly after, breaking through Villa's lines on a well worked indirect free kick and angling a good low shot that Guzan could only watch go in. The goal didn't change much for Villa who still had to score but, in spite of seing a little more of the ball, they still struggled to see the white of Akinfeev's eyes. Osbourne came on in the last ten minutes but CSKA were still looking the likeliest to score. In the end, it was Wagner Love who put the tie beyond doubt in added time when he finally got his way and pounced on a counter attack.

After working so hard last season to qualify for this competition, Martin O'Neill elected to gamble with an inexperienced side and could not swing it against a solid CSKA. Martin O'Neill will have learned little from this game and now turns his attention to the all important league challenge, with the visit of Stoke this weekend.