Vagner Love Breaks Nancy Hearts

Nancy snatched an early lead in this thrilling see-saw encounter through Monsef Zerka but Vagner Love leveled the score midway through the first half. Osni Ramon gave CSKA a half time lead before Vagner Love scored the second of his treble against the run of play in the second half. Julien Féret and Basile Camerling had Nancy level before Vagner Love stung Nancy in the final minute.

The night started in a positive manner as Nancy fashioned a goal within five minutes of referee Zslot Szabo’s first whistle. Julien Feret would have an excellent evening on the right side of midfield and little wonder as he started in confident fashion, playing a pass inside to Zerka, who controlled on the edge of the box before sending a well-placed shot in off the post.

This proved merely the appetiser to whet the supporters’ appetite for what was to be a magnificent advert for the UEFA Cup. Only three minutes later Feret would again do damage down the right side of the defence however his cross was knocked narrowly past the post by Marc-Antoine Fortuné.

CSKA, with a 100% record in the competition to protect, were never likely to roll over easily. Brazilian forward Vagner Love was to prove a thorn in Nancy’s side all evening yet somehow they failed to pick him up at Yuri Zhirkov’s corner after 13 minutes. Surprised by a near post flick from home midfielder Landry N’Guemo, the unmarked striker could not turn the ball home.

A reprieve was only temporary for the Stade Marcel-Pichot club as the enigmatic 24 year-old soon managed to put his stamp on the scoreboard. Outmuscling Alfred N’Daiye in the centre of the field, Vagner Love was allowed to advance and shoot. While the effort was well enough struck, Gennaro Bracigliano in the home goal could certainly have done more to stop it as he appeared to leave the ball to travel into the net.

Zerka could have restored the home advantage but, instead, it would be the Muscovites who would grab a lead to take into half-time. Powerful play from Zhirkov saw Bracigliano fail to control a well-struck shot, allowing Osni Ramon to pounce on the rebound and slide the ball easily into the net.

With the start of the second half brought an increased tempo from Nancy, who created two fine early chances as André Luiz headed over a Jean Calvé cross before Zerka flashed a shot past the left hand post of Igor Akinfeev’s goal.

Despite these positive intentions, CSKA would again hit Nancy on the counter. The UEFA Cup campaign has been difficult for Bracigliano, who came haring out of his goal to attempt to intercept a pass to Erkin Caner. The man in the red shirt beat the goalkeeper to the ball and was able to centre for Vagner Love to place a shot between two retreating defenders and into the net.

Whether CSKA felt a two goal cushion was enough to kill the game or whether Nancy were riled by this action is irrelevant as the hosts stormed back into the match. The final 20 minutes of play would be utterly dominated by Nancy, who pulled one goal back through Féret, whose cheeky finish was far more pleasing than the long pass from Jonathan Brison that had gone before it.

Four great chances would come and go in quick succession as Pablo Correa’s men desperately stormed Akinfeev’s goal in search of an equaliser. Each attack seemed to give Nancy more belief and so it was little surprise when Jean Calvé’s cross was bundled over the line by Basile Camerling, a young man only just back from long-term injury.

A match point would come for the Lorraine club as Féret collected a cross in the area. Having steadied himself, he was denied by Akinfeev, who was swiftly off his line to make a smart block. With just ten minutes to go, it was all there for Nancy against a Russian side seemingly tiring after a long season.

But Vagner Love, on irrepressible form, would have the final say. Damien Macaluso was brushed off by the forward, who sent a shot into the corner of the net to complete a perfect evening on a personal level and continue a perfect campaign to date for his side, who will go into their close season on a high.

Such a cruel defeat means that Nancy will need to acquire something from Deportive La Coruna in a fortnight’s time in order to be sure of progression.

AS NANCY-LORRAINE 3-4 CSKA MOSCOW

1-0 5’ Monsef Zerka
1-1 23’ Vagner Love
1-2 34’ Osni Ramon
1-3 61’ Vagner Love
2-3 71’ Julien Féret
3-3 79’ Basile Camerling
3-4 87’ Vagner Love

Nancy: Bracigliano; Calvé, Brison, André Luiz, Macaluso; N’Guema, N’Daiye (Camerling, 77’); Dia (Berenguer, 69’), Féret, Zerka; Fortuné (Helder, 84’)

Yellow Cards: André Luiz 45’, Zerka 49’,

CSKA: Akinfeev; Semberas, Zhirkov, Grigoriev, Ignashevic; Aldonin, Rahimic, Canin (Mamaev, 67’), Krasić (Shennikov, 90’); Vagner Love, Ramon (Dzagoev, 57’)

Yellow Cards: Semberas 45’, Zhirkov 47’, Grigoriev 49’

Robin Bairner, Goal.com