Yaya Toure returned to the City XI
Two first half goals and Manchester City were cruising but by the time the referee blew to signal the end of the match, three points had turned into just the one.
Manchester City's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages are in doubt after conceding a two-goal lead at CSKA Moscow.
City went into the game in desperate need of three points after losing to Bayern Munich and drawing with Roma.
They appeared to be in control as Sergio Aguero continued his fine goalscoring form to put the away side ahead before James Milner doubled their advantage before the break.
But half-time substitute Seydou Doumbia single-handedly turned the game on its head as he pulled a goal back and won an 86th-minute penalty that Bebras Natcho converted, leaving City winless after three games in Group E.
The match was played behind closed doors at the Khimki Arena due to the behaviour of CSKA Moscow supporters during the 5-1 defeat at Roma last month.
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It was a strange, eerie atmosphere in the Russian capital but it favoured Manchester City who won 2-1 on the same ground last season.
Manuel Pellegrini made five changes to the side that started the 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with Yaya Toure among those recalled to his starting lineup.
CSKA were also in need of a first win in Champions League Group E after back-to-back defeats to Bayern Munich and Roma and they were boosted by a 6-0 win in the Russian Premier League over the weekend.
It was the home side who posed the early threat as Ahmed Musa and Zoran Tosic both went close with long-range efforts in the opening stages.
Musa then went through on goal as the City defence opened easily for the striker but he was stopped by a last-ditch challenge from Eliaquim Mangala.
City regained their composure to command the rest of the half and they found a breakthrough after 29 minutes.
David Silva's defence-splitting pass sent Edin Dzeko through on goal and he unselfishly squared to Aguero who finished into an empty net, his eighth goal in his last five games after bagging all four against Spurs.
Dzeko almost got on the scoresheet himself moments later when he arrowed a shot towards the bottom corner from 18 yards, only to be kept out by CSKA captain Igor Akinfeev.
But there was nothing the goalkeeper could do about City's second goal. After good link-up play between Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta, Aguero hit a cross-come-shot across the face of goal and Milner converted it on the slide from two yards out.
Man City could have extended their lead further as they hit the woodwork and had two penalty appeals turned down in one move before half time. From an Aleksandar Kolarov cross Dzeko appeared to be clipped by Sergei Ignashevich and Milner was also pulled to ground as his shot came back off the post.
Pellegrini's side looked in complete control but they were second best in every department after returning for the second half.
Yaya Toure will come under more criticism from City supporters for another disappointing performance and he was culpable for a soft flick in the build up to the goal that put the hosts back in the game.
After the Ivory Coast midfielder gave away possession cheaply, Musa broke free of the City defence and found half-time substitute Doumbia to finish from a yard out.
City rode their luck and had only themselves to blame when CSKA equalised four minutes from time, although the Premier League champions were unhappy with the penalty decision.
Doumbia went down theatrically inside the City area after a challenge from Kolarov but it was enough to convince Hungarian referee Istvan Vad who pointed to the spot.
Natcho converted the spot kick in the right corner of the goal, just out of reach of Joe Hart who guessed the right way.
The draw leaves City with just two points from their opening three games in Group E and it is likely they will need to win in Rome if they are to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
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