CSKA’s keeper, Igor Akinfeev, had to work hard to keep the score 0-0 until the half-time whistle. The Ukrainians controlled the ball pretty well and created some good opportunities in front, while the hosts could only threaten Shakhtar’s goals after free kicks from Alan Dzagoev.

But it was the Army men who scored first on one of their first strong attacks in the second half ended with Rat’s foul on Milosh Krasic in Shakhtar’s box.

UEFA CUP’s leading scorer, Wagner Love, stepped up to take the penalty kick, leaving no chances for keeper Andrey Pyatov and giving CSKA a 1-0 lead on 50 minutes. And it was the 11th goal in just 9 games for the Brazilian international.

Shakhtar pushed for an equalizer but the hosts kept a lot of men at the back and managed to keep the winning score, 1-0.

But the Ukrainian’s pressure resulted in a yellow card for one of CSKA’s leaders, Yury Zhirkov, who will miss the second leg.

The army men, who became the first Russian team to lift the UEFA Cup, need not loose in Donetsk on March 19 to keep the hopes of repeating their success of 2005 alive.

Dinamo Kiev 1-0 Metallist Kharkiv

The match between Dinamo Kiev and Metallist Kharkiv became the first ever all-Ukrainian encounter in UEFA Cup history.

The Kharkiv team, which defeated Sampdoria, Benfica, and Galatasaray on their way to the last 16, looked unexpectedly shy on the pitch of Valery Lobanovski stadium in the Ukrainian capital. Metallist had just one shot on target during the whole 90 minutes.

Dinamo managed to capitalize on its advantage in ball possession at the 54th minute when Ognjen Vukojevic put in the header after a corner by Aleksandr Aliev.

Hamburg 1-1 Galatasaray Istanbul

The Turkish side managed to bring an important draw from Hamburg, despite being a man down for 40 minutes after Emre Asık was sent off.

The guests went in front after a goal from Ayhan Akman on 33 minutes, but the Germans equalized after Marcell Jansen shot from close range.