Moscow: Russian champions CSKA Moscow battled back from a goal down to win their sixth Russian Super Cup on Saturday after beating nine-man Rostov 3-1 in Krasnodar.
The annual Russian domestic season curtain-raiser that pits the league champions against the national cup winners was played for the second time in the southern city of Krasnodar, which also hosted the 2011 edition.
Rostov, last season’s Russian Cup winners, took the lead on 37 minutes through Croatian left-back Hrvoje Milic, who slotted home a rebound after forward Dmitry Poloz’s initial shot bounced back off the post.
However, CSKA, who were without injured Russian internationals Alan Dzagoev and Georgy Shchennikov, Latvian midfielder Aleksandrs Cauna and Sweden’s Rasmus Elm, moved up a gear after the interval and levelled in the 56th minute.
Rostov defenders failed to clear a cross from Nigerian striker Ahmad Musa, allowing Pontus Wernbloom to drill home the equaliser.
Two minutes of madness then saw Rostov reduced to nine men, with Moldovan midfielder Alexander Gatskan dismissed for a second yellow card on 61 minutes before Gabonese forward Guelor Kanga received his marching orders moments later.
CSKA duly capitalised on their numerical advantage with Serbian midfielder Zoran Tosic putting the Red Army side 2-1 ahead on 74 minutes, before Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia sealed victory six minutes later.
