Keisuke Honda made his return from injury Friday but CSKA Moscow suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Rubin Kazan in the deciding stage of the Russian Premier League championship playoffs.
Honda, who had been sidelined after damaging a meniscus cartilage in his right knee during an Aug. 28 RPL match, played the full 90 minutes and went close to scoring on a number of occasions.
Rubin took the lead in the 16th minute as Alan Kasaev finished off a swift counter attack, but CSKA pulled level from the penalty spot through former Kashiwa Reysol striker Seydou Doumbia.
Doumbia missed a chance to put CSKA into the lead when he sent the ball over the bar after Honda had earned his side another spot kick, and that miss proved costly as Alexander Ryazantsev netted Rubin's winner just after the hour mark with a long-range effort.