ROMELU LUKAKU AND Marcus Rashford scored as Manchester United defeated CSKA Moscow 2-1 to reach the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time since 2013-14.
A contentious goal awarded to Vitinho gave CSKA a shock lead on half-time, but Lukaku and Rashford struck twice in two second-half minutes to send Jose Mourinho’s side into the last 16 as Group A winners.
After Saturday’s 3-1 win at Arsenal, victory at Old Trafford sustained United’s momentum ahead of Sunday’s crucial derby showdown with runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.
In avoiding defeat, United established a new club record of 40 home games unbeaten in all competitions, their last loss on home turf being a 2-1 defeat by City in September last year.
With Basel winning 2-0 away to Benfica in the other group game, CSKA had to content themselves with a place in the knockout phase of the Europa League while the Swiss side went through.
Luke Shaw made his first start of the season and impressed. Martin Rickett
Martin Rickett
Mourinho made six changes to the team that had beaten Arsenal, handing a rare start to forgotten left-back Luke Shaw, and the low-key feel was only exacerbated when the Champions League music failed to play prior to kick-off.
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Restored to the United attack in place of Anthony Martial, Rashford procured a couple of early chances.
He scuffed a shot against the post from Lukaku’s pass and then, after Juan Mata had brilliantly brought down a lofted Daley Blind pass and cut the ball back, drew a one-handed save from Igor Akinfeev.
Making his first start since April, Shaw got forward well from his left wing-back role, stinging Akinfeev’s palms with a volley and narrowly failing to pick out Rashford with a low cross.
But CSKA looked purposeful when they had opportunities to attack and after Vasili Berezutski and Vitinho had shot over, they took the lead right on half-time. And in curious fashion.
Jose Mourinho shows his disbelief as CSKA's first-half goal is allowed to stand. Tim Goode
Tim Goode
Mario Fernandes cut the ball back from the byline on the right and Vitinho’s stabbed effort struck Alan Dzagoev on the back and bounced into the net.
At first glance Dzagoev appeared to be offside, but replays showed he had been played onside by Blind, who had slid off the pitch as he attempted to cut out Fernandes’s pass.
Adding to the confusion, UEFA initially credited the goal to Dzagoev, only to then award it to Vitinho.
United quickly set about restoring parity in the second half, Rashford working Akinfeev with a rasping drive from a narrow angle, and in the 64th minute they levelled.
From the inside-left channel, Paul Pogba used his left foot to play a raking pass in behind the CSKA defence and Lukaku held off Viktor Vasin to toe a close-range volley past a wrong-footed Akinfeev.
It was only the Belgium striker’s second goal in his last 13 appearances.
Marcus Rashford struck the post early in the first-half but he made up for the miss by rifling home United's game-winner in the second period. Martin Rickett
Martin Rickett
The visitors barely had time to kick off before finding themselves behind as Mata’s lobbed pass set Rashford scuttling into the box to plant a left-foot shot inside Akinfeev’s left-hand post.
Mourinho used the opportunity to hand game time to youth-team graduates Scott McTominay and Axel Tuanzebe, both of whom came on as late substitutes.
But there was almost a sting in the tail for the hosts after Dzagoev stole into space and forced Sergio Romero — deputising in goal for Emirates Stadium hero David de Gea — to save with his legs.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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Lukaku ends goal drought as two dazzling minutes prove crucial and Man United move on
ROMELU LUKAKU AND Marcus Rashford scored as Manchester United defeated CSKA Moscow 2-1 to reach the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time since 2013-14.
A contentious goal awarded to Vitinho gave CSKA a shock lead on half-time, but Lukaku and Rashford struck twice in two second-half minutes to send Jose Mourinho’s side into the last 16 as Group A winners.
After Saturday’s 3-1 win at Arsenal, victory at Old Trafford sustained United’s momentum ahead of Sunday’s crucial derby showdown with runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.
In avoiding defeat, United established a new club record of 40 home games unbeaten in all competitions, their last loss on home turf being a 2-1 defeat by City in September last year.
With Basel winning 2-0 away to Benfica in the other group game, CSKA had to content themselves with a place in the knockout phase of the Europa League while the Swiss side went through.
Mourinho made six changes to the team that had beaten Arsenal, handing a rare start to forgotten left-back Luke Shaw, and the low-key feel was only exacerbated when the Champions League music failed to play prior to kick-off.
Restored to the United attack in place of Anthony Martial, Rashford procured a couple of early chances.
He scuffed a shot against the post from Lukaku’s pass and then, after Juan Mata had brilliantly brought down a lofted Daley Blind pass and cut the ball back, drew a one-handed save from Igor Akinfeev.
Making his first start since April, Shaw got forward well from his left wing-back role, stinging Akinfeev’s palms with a volley and narrowly failing to pick out Rashford with a low cross.
But CSKA looked purposeful when they had opportunities to attack and after Vasili Berezutski and Vitinho had shot over, they took the lead right on half-time. And in curious fashion.
Mario Fernandes cut the ball back from the byline on the right and Vitinho’s stabbed effort struck Alan Dzagoev on the back and bounced into the net.
At first glance Dzagoev appeared to be offside, but replays showed he had been played onside by Blind, who had slid off the pitch as he attempted to cut out Fernandes’s pass.
Adding to the confusion, UEFA initially credited the goal to Dzagoev, only to then award it to Vitinho.
United quickly set about restoring parity in the second half, Rashford working Akinfeev with a rasping drive from a narrow angle, and in the 64th minute they levelled.
From the inside-left channel, Paul Pogba used his left foot to play a raking pass in behind the CSKA defence and Lukaku held off Viktor Vasin to toe a close-range volley past a wrong-footed Akinfeev.
It was only the Belgium striker’s second goal in his last 13 appearances.
The visitors barely had time to kick off before finding themselves behind as Mata’s lobbed pass set Rashford scuttling into the box to plant a left-foot shot inside Akinfeev’s left-hand post.
Mourinho used the opportunity to hand game time to youth-team graduates Scott McTominay and Axel Tuanzebe, both of whom came on as late substitutes.
But there was almost a sting in the tail for the hosts after Dzagoev stole into space and forced Sergio Romero — deputising in goal for Emirates Stadium hero David de Gea — to save with his legs.
© AFP 2017
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
As it happened: Manchester United v CSKA Moscow, Champions League
David de Gea’s heroics remind us of how goalkeepers remain remarkably undervalued
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group winners Jose Mourinho Marcus Rashford Romelu Lukaku CSKA Moskva Manchester United