Champions League - United qualify after thriller

Eurosport - Tue, 03 Nov 21:34:00 2009

Manchester United had to come from two goals down to grab a point in a 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League at Old Trafford.

2009-10 Champions League Manchester United Antonio Valencia (PA Photos) - 0

Antonio Valencia's injury-time leveller was enough to seal United's qualification from Group B after Paul Scholes had pulled a goal back on 84 minutes.

Michael Owen cancelled out Alan Dzagoev's opener but goals by Milos Krasic and Vasily Berezutsky had put the Russian club on course for a famous upset.

United rallied in the closing stages and in the end their never-say-die attitude prevailed - although it was another far from convincing performance from last year's finalists - while CSKA now trail Wolfsburg by three points to sit in third place in the group.

Wayne Rooney started on the bench after having become a father earlier in the week, while United were also missing central their first choice defensive partnership Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic through injury.

Wes Brown and Jonny Evans started in their place, with Fabio deputising for Patrice Evra, who started on the bench, at left-back.

CSKA sounded their intent early in an open and entertaining start to the game, with Deividas Semberas firing just wide of the post in the third minute.

But United soon asserted themselves and nearly hit back six minutes later when Valencia made inroads down the right hand side. His cross into the middle found Owen but he could not connect cleanly and a good opportunity to break the deadlock went begging.

Owen was guilty of profligacy in front of goal for a second time on 17 minutes, the summer signing poking a weak shot straight at Igor Akinfeev after having done the hard part by breaking through the visitors' backline.

In between those efforts, Darren Fletcher, returning from injury, saw a fierce drive drift inches wide of the post before Federico Macheda, making his European debut, fizzed a shot inches the wrong side of the upright.

United were on top, as they had been in the game in Moscow a fortnight ago, so it was a shock to their system when Dzagoev opened the scoring with a terrific strike on 25 minutes.

The 19-year-old Russia international lost his marker Wes Brown all too easily before running onto Tomas Necid's chested ball through. He appeared to take it a little too wide, but his shot was angled into the roof of the net and powerful enough to leave Edwin Van der Sar rooted to the spot and wondering how the ball had beaten him.

Just four minutes later it was third time lucky for Owen as he demonstrated he still has the finishing instinct that once made his name as one of the deadliest strikers in Europe. Valencia's cross was back-heeled by Nani - disappointing again - into Owen's path via a deflection, and the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man did the rest.

But parity was to last just two minutes as Krasic was allowed to run onto Necid's layoff on the edge of the penalty area, round Van der Sar and slot into an empty net.

United rallied as the half drew to a close, Macheda and Paul Scholes both bringing Akinfeev into further action, but the hosts went in at the break trailing 2-1.

That soon became 3-1 as another bit of lax defending from the hosts allowed Berezutsky to head home a deep free-kick at the far post on 47 minutes. This time Macheda was the guilty party, the young Italian losing his man as the ball was whipped over.

United should have been given a chance to level for a second time just three minutes later, but referee Olegario Benquerenca waved away strong appeals for a penalty as Fletcher was tripped in the box. Replays showed there to have been contact, but the Portuguese official opted to caution the Scot instead of pointing to the spot.

Alex Ferguson brought on Rooney and Evra just before the hour mark and the introduction of the pair gave United an immediate lift.

Rooney glanced a header wide on 63 minutes before he was denied by Akinfeev, who had just saved another effort from Owen.

United continued to press and Macheda nearly pulled one back with a header than thumped the base of the post before Scholes signalled his own personal intent with a rasping drive that stung Akinfeev's fingers.

The midfielder was not to be denied and he found the back of the net from the resulting corner, heading home from close range amid some shockingly lackadaisical CSKA marking.

Buoyed by the goal and lifted by the now vocal crowd, United pushed in search of a late equaliser and it arrived in the second minute of injury time, as Akinfeev was foxed by a hefty deflection on Valencia's shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 114 - 133 of 133

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  1. YES! Obertan and Tosic should both start ahead of Nani.­ Their footwork is amazing and they're not selfish­ with the ball and don't shoot at goal from 50 yards­ out (unlike someone)

    From t.murgatroyd, on Wed 4 Nov 4:49PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hey mancs u got some good divers now to replace­ ron.evra fletch eh.u stil l need 6mins extra to win­ tossers xted liv

    From JAMESEDWARD R, on Wed 4 Nov 12:36PM

  3. VDS beaten twice at near post. ENOUGH SAID!

    From DES S, on Wed 4 Nov 11:45AM

  4. trevormarch43 - Fergie tried to pull a striker back­ into a midfield role before, do you remember? Alan­ Smith - look what happened to his career!? He was­ actually quite a good player (see his 1st 15 games when­ he played as a striker for united and he looked the­ part) but then SAF decided he needed to replace Keane­ with Smith and the guy has never recovered since. Plus­ a nasty leg break didn' help but he was definitely­ united & england player quality until he went into­ midfield. Do you want that for rooney!? As for Nani, he­ seems to have the talent but something is missing. He­ does try but it ain't coming off. But Obertan (from­ the little i've seen of him) looks like a really­ good prospect. He missed a couple of sitters against­ blackburn on his debut but kept getting involved &­ kept wanting the ball. Good signs - maybe he should­ start ahead of Nani?

    From shujaahmad2004, on Wed 4 Nov 11:16AM

  5. Who cares!!! My boyfriend thinks the same with me. He­ is eight years older than me, lol. We met at­ __Agelessmatch @ c o m__a nice and free place for­ Younger Women and Older Men, or Older Women and Younger­ Men, to interact with each other. Maybe you wanna check­ out or tell your friends.

    From hi.kalyjones, on Wed 4 Nov 10:33AM

  6. Post 111, Rob. you @#$% scoursers are turning green­ with envy. soon you'll turn
    black charcoal... mourn­ the death of liverfool and its fuc***n @#$% coach­ fat
    rafa.. as for us glory..glory..glory MAN UNITED..­ we can smell the EPL, FA, UEFA,
    CARLING cups.....

    BEL­ pa zed

    From Brian, on Wed 4 Nov 10:24AM

  7. bartpeck1977: Still waiting to hear where you are from.­ Or are you scared to tell us?

    From Rock and Roll Machine, on Wed 4 Nov 10:06AM

  8. bartpeck and tiredofthegreed, get a room...

    From United, kids, wife, on Wed 4 Nov 9:53AM

  9. bartpeck1977 you are funny! We are so pathetic. Just­ think, if we hadn't invented the television, you­ wouldn't have been able to watch your favourite­ programmes. If we hadn't invented the internet, you­ wouldn't be able to @#$% off to your favourite porn­ so easily. If we hadn't invented just about­ EVERYTHING worthwhile in modern life, then you­ wouldn't be able to do many things as easily as you­ do now. And without our language being the most widely­ used on the planet, you wouldn't have been able to­ post such a childish, ignorant a racist comment for so­ many people all over the world to understand and laugh­ at! What a pathetic race we really­ are..............................now, tell us all about­ YOUR country.

    From tiredofthegreed, on Wed 4 Nov 9:39AM

  10. Difficult to draw conclusions from a makeshift team,­ but I am concerned that United play below par more­ often that not. If they don't practice playing­ well, how can they expect to rise to the big occasions?­ The importance being attached to Fletcher sums up their­ current situation. He's an honest hard worker and­ every team needs them, but they are a sort of glue and­ glue needs something of substance around it.­ Where's the substance? Certainly not wasteful Nani,­ slow Carrick, or aging Scholes.
    A couple of solutions?­ 1. As Nani is so ineffective and both Fabio and his­ brother are better going forward than defending, turn­ them into wingers. Can't be worse than Nani! 2. As­ we are lacking creative presence in midfield (and­ therefore bullets to fire up front), pull Rooney back­ as an attacking midfielder and bring in another­ striker. Should keep Wayne in the thick of the action­ instead of stranded out wide or up front!
    Just a­ thought .....

    From trevormarch43, on Wed 4 Nov 9:16AM

  11. comments 110,do u really watch football as a football­ fan ,united do i the way that u guy will always fill­ down when u guys are thinking that we going to loose­ then we came out with some thing,,no dous we are going­ o win the league and the the champions league com on­ united com on united the best team in the planet cus we­ have playing all over the continent .

    From Alex, on Wed 4 Nov 9:13AM

  12. Post 118, why would you even be reading this article or­ commenting on it when you hate sport, iys just stupid.­ And the racist comments was a bad move.

    From dean, on Wed 4 Nov 9:11AM

  13. @ 113 - Is any injury time going to be referred to as­ Cheating when its Manchester United who make the most­ of it? Last I heard its 30 seconds added on per goal­ and per substitution, at least. So 6 Substitutions and­ 1 goal is about 3 and 1/2 Minutes (with interest)...­ Hmm... Right, so legitimate timekeeping there.
    Nice­ attempt at trying to instigate something though, give­ yourself a cookie.

    From ross.m.barnes, on Wed 4 Nov 9:10AM

  14. UNITED The best team in the World period. All you­ haters go and suck something. Even with so many­ injuries we still prevail - Come on UNITED

    From Nqoe, on Wed 4 Nov 8:44AM

  15. what man utd needs is a RELIABLE central defender.

    Rio­ blows hot and cold

    Vidic throws tantrums when the­ forwards eat him alive

    From hambycomb, on Wed 4 Nov 8:42AM

  16. bartpeck1977. you are the biggest nob on earth if you­ dont like football then @#$% off and stop putting your­ comments on here @#$%

    From keerit1, on Wed 4 Nov 8:35AM

  17. We definitely need Berba for Chelsea game! Otherwise it­ will be really tough! My predicition for Sunday's­ starting 11. VDS, OShea, Evra, Vidich, Evans, Valencia,­ Giggs, Fletcher, Anderson, Rooney, Berbatov. Subs to­ come in - Carrick and Obertan. If we are losing I would­ prefer to see Wazza on the left wing and Berba and Owen­ upfront instead of seeing Nani again. He is far away­ from MU material. We desperately need a good left­ winger since Giggs is playing in the middle due to his­ lack of pace, Obertan and Valencia are both right­ wingers and Nani and Park are not good enough for­ starting 11. Fergie please sign Jovetic for AML and­ Akinfeev. We saw last night that the Russian is ready­ for MU.

    From staffer84, on Wed 4 Nov 8:34AM

  18. bartpeck1977: Why are you even on here if you are so­ vehement about football? No-one could accuse you of­ making assumptions about an entire nation, could they?­ Where are you from then?

    From Rock and Roll Machine, on Wed 4 Nov 8:24AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Injury time again, how long has this got to go on­ before someone realises the Man U scam of injury time­ being played, it's becoming a joke. Bully boy­ Fergie does it again!

    From r.j.hall, on Wed 4 Nov 8:15AM

  20. Scum feast of a team? Go to school, learn to spell,­ then come back. Penis.

    From Darren, on Wed 4 Nov 8:13AM
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