eplmatches.com

John Carew’s equaliser for Aston Villa set up a tantalising second-leg Uefa Cup tie against CSKA Moscow after an entertaining match at Villa Park.

The visitors took the lead after the impressive Vagner Love finished a move he had started inside his own half.

Villa improved as the game progressed, with Craig Gardner hitting the crossbar with a header before Carew’s leveller.

Ashley Young’s cross found Gardner and the left-back set up Carew, who struck low beyond Igor Akinfeev from 12 yards.

Visiting manager Zico predicted Villa would have “lost some of their power” following their FA Cup exit to Everton at the weekend.

While it took the home side some time to come to terms with the Russians’ deft movement and passing, Villa showed no ill-effects from their defeat at Goodison Park.

Indeed, Villa, playing their 41st game of a season that began back in July, were unfortunate not to take a lead into the second leg in Moscow with both Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young missing chances late on.