Manchester City's hopes of reaching Champions League's knockout stage suffers major blow post CSKA draw

Manchester City's hopes of making it to the Champions League's knockout stage suffered a major blow as CSKA Moscow held them to a 2-2 draw, despite Manuel Pellegrini side's two-goal lead against the hosts.

Argentine striker Sergio Aguero tapped in Edin Dzeko's pass to give City the lead in the 29th minute in a near-empty stadium with fans banned over previous CSKA disturbances. Midfielder James Milner slid home the second nine minutes later and then hit the post.

CSKA forward Seydou Doumbia converted from six yards to reduce City's lead. He was fouled late on and midfielder Bibras Natkho levelled from the spot four minutes before full-time, The BBC reported.

The impact of Doumbia from the bench helped prevent a seventh successive defeat in the Champions League for CSKA but his tumble under a challenge from Aleksandar Kolarov angered the visitors.

Kolarov seemed to simply stand his ground in the 18-yard box but the Hungarian referee pointed to the spot in a moment that might end City's hopes of reaching the knockout stages for just the second time in four attempts.

Pellegrini's side now have two points from three games in Group E after losing at Bayern Munich and drawing at home to Roma.

They beat CSKA home and away in the group stages of last year's competition and would have to beat them at Etihad Stadium in two weeks to stave off another early exit for one of Europe's richest clubs, the report added.