CSKA face uphill task in Tel Aviv

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VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia -- Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa held 2005 winners CSKA Moscow to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first knockout round tie on Wednesday.

The Russian champions, who were missing Brazilian striker Vagner Love though injury, controlled the tempo for much of the game but it was Maccabi who had the best chances early on.

Yaniv Katan hit the post from close range and Argentina-born Israeli international Roberto Colautti just missed the far post in the opening 20 minutes.

At the other end, Brazilian striker Jo, CSKA's top scorer last year, failed with his best chance in the first half.

After the break CSKA substitute Daniel Carhalho missed the target with a 20-meter free kick while fellow Brazil international Dudu headed over the bar.

"It was not one of our best matches to say the least," lamented CSKA coach Valery Gazzayev.

"We were making two many defensive mistakes tonight. Two of those mistakes could have even cost us dearly as they had two excellent chances to score."

Maccabi coach Roni Levi was understandably happy with a draw, saying: "0-0 is a great result for us."

CSKA decided to host Maccabi in Vladikavkaz, located in the volatile Caucasus region near Chechnya -- some 1,500 kilometres south of the Russian capital --because it was too cold to play in Moscow.

The match was staged amid tight security, with thousands of riot police employed in and around the Spartak stadium in addition to Russia's special anti-terrorist units, who were guarding the Israelis during their entire stay in the region.

The return leg will be played in Tel Aviv next Thursday.

Happy Hapoel

Hapoel Tel Aviv denied Glasgow Rangers the chance to become the first Scottish side to go 13 matches unbeaten in Europe with a 2-1 win in the first leg of their UEFA Cup last 32 clash in Israel.

Baruch Dego's 73rd-minute strike ensured Rangers were beaten for the first time in any competition since Walter Smith returned to the manager's chair last month, Nacho Novo having earlier cancelled out a stunning first-half free-kick by Hapoel's Salim Toama.

French giants Paris Saint Germain's resurgence under Paul Le Guen continued as they beat AEK Athens 2-0 in Greece in their first leg -- 10 years after their coach won 3-0 as a PSG player against the same opposition in the Cup Winners' Cup.

Goals by previously out of favor Malian international Sammy Traore and a late one from Bernard Mendy gave PSG a great opportunity of progressing to the last 16 in a competition that Le Guen - who last year was linked with a move to become Olympiakos coach - said came behind ensuring their survival in the championship.

Le Guen, who enjoyed great success as coach at Lyon before a short inauspicious one at Rangers, said he was satisfied with the result.

"We stepped up to the plate against a very good team, who had beaten AC Milan and Lille here in the Champions League this season," he said.

"We performed the task with great courage and I think we are the better team but we still have work to do."

Espanyol won 2-1 at Italy's Livorno. Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani converted a 28th minute penalty and El Yaagoubi Moha added a second in the 59th. Fabio Galante, who gave away the penalty, replied for the Serie A club eight minutes from the end.

Only 400 spectators were allowed into the 18,000-seat Stadio Armando Picchi, which was closed last week for failing to meet new security standards adopted by the Italian government after the death of a police officer in rioting at a Serie A game on Feb. 2.

Some 500 fans watched the game outside the stadium on two big screens.

Fabrizio Miccoli scored in the 90th minute as Benfica shaded their first leg tie against Dinamo Bucharest in Lisbon.

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