Rubin Kazan 3-2 Chelsea: Live Score, Highlights, Recap

UEFA Europa League quarterfinals: Rubin Kazan 3-2 Chelsea (Chelsea progress on 3-2 aggregate)

11 April 2013

Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Referee: Firat Aydinus (Turkey)

Scoring

5' Torres; 51' Marcano; 55' Moses; 62' Karadeniz; 75' Natcho

Lineups

Rubin Kazan XI: Ryzhikov; Kuzmin, Marcano, Navas, Ansaldi; Natkho, Orbaiz; Karadeniz, Eremenko, Kasaev; Rondon

Chelsea XI: Cech; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Terry, Ferreira; Ramires, Lampard, Ake; Moses, Benayoun; Torres

Fernando Torres got things going with an important away goal after only five minutes—his side-footed lob catching Rubin Kazan goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov well out of position and bouncing into the open net.

Alexei Eremenko had missed a good opportunity for the hosts just moments before, and he would have another two chances to score before the break, at which point Rubin trailed Chelsea 1-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

But the restart brought a renewed attacking commitment from the Russian side, who got on the scoresheet in the 51st minute through Ivan Marcano, who got on the end of Pablo Orbaiz’ cross and beat Cech with a powerful header.

But level terms on the night would last only four minutes—Victor Moses initiating a neat one-two with Ramires before slotting home the go-ahead goal, giving the Blues a commanding 5-2 aggregate lead.

Still, Rubin didn’t roll over.

Gokdeniz Karadeniz scored another header—out-jumping David Luiz—after Cristian Ansaldi had done ever so well to out-fox Cesar Azpilicueta on the left flank before playing in a delightful cross.

And just to make things interesting, substitute Aleksandr Ryazantsev won a penalty in the 75th minute off Azpilicueta, and after Bibras Natkho finished confidently from the spot it looked as though Rubin were right back in the tie.

It wasn’t to be.

Although Chelsea were very much second-best on the night they managed to button down the hatches in the final quarter-hour, and because of their 3-1 win in the first leg at Stamford Bridge will go into the pot for tomorrow’s Europa League semifinal draw in Nyon, Switzerland.

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