Malaga took on CSKA Moscow in the opening match at Scroggy Road in a glamour fixture. As the rain lashed down, it was the Russian side who started with the early incentive as Malaga keeper Javier Palomo kept out a low shot from Chavlov Feder. Malaga were let off the hook once again on eight minutes as Karmonev Maxim dinked a delightful ball over the top for Ryaboken Pavel, who got through one on one but rolled his effort wide. Brian Nieto was an inch away from putting the Blue and Whites into the lead as he charged on to a Jose Nunez through ball, but before he got a shot away CSKA keeper Ovchinnikov Pavel closed him down to claim the loose ball. Both sides were playing cautious but still managing to play attractive football .
CSKA took the lead on thirty eight minutes as Kordev Alan slipped in Khosonov Khetag who peeled off his marker to fire into the net leaving Palomo with no chance of saving. On the stroke of halftime the Anchovies could have went in level when Francisco Valverdre went on an Isco-esque run, threading the ball to Lucas Ligio only for him to fire wide. CSKA Moscow started the second half on top going two ahead when Leonov Kirill played a beautiful pass into Khetag to cooly slot into the net . Malaga started to settle down then, carving out numerous openings with the best coming from Jorge Rodriguez, but his shot was well saved by the keeper. However it was the Russians who could have made the points safe as Pavel headed down into the ground the ball looping over the bar from Fedors cross.
With eleven minutes to go CSKA did go three ahead through the impressive Alan as his non stop running saw him outpace the Spanish defence to fire low into the net and seal the game. Malaga made a flurry of changes which seemed to work on their favour as they played their best football of the match. The Spaniards pulled a goal back through Fabio Nandal as he took advantage of an error in the CSKA defence to pounce, rounding the keeper before slotting the ball home. Overall a very exciting game and a fantastic advert for the Milk Cup as CSKA ran out winners.
Match Report by Joshua Bunting