Fan Report: Manchester United 3-3 CSKA Moscow

A deflected strike from Antonio Valencia a minute into injury time kept United’s unbeaten Champions League home run in tact and delivered qualification into the knockout stages with two games to spare.

Things didn’t go all United’s way however, and, thanks to a much smoother pitch than a fortnight ago, some controlled passing and clinical finishing almost allowed CSKA to pull off an upset.

United began the game brightly and Antonio Valencia had a chance to open the scoring after just three minutes when he was put through on goal down the right hand side. Unfortunately, he was unable to get a shot away and the ball was put out for a corner.

Michael Owen and Darren Fletcher then both had chances in the space of four minutes as United looked for a lead. First, Owen scuffed a tame shot after some good interplay between Nani and Valencia down the right hand side. Then Fletcher found some space to turn 20 yards from goal and unleashed a fierce strike just wide of the post.  However, they were stunned in the 25th minute when CSKA scored with their first real chance of the game. Dzagoev latched onto to a knock down from Tomas Necid and set off on a run down the left. Just when it looked like he had taken the ball too wide, he sent a powerful strike across Edwin Van Der Sar and into the top corner.

This seemed to stir United and they were level inside four minutes as Owen made up for his missed chances with a clinical finish in the box. A good run and cross by Valencia was cleverly flicked on by Nani and the ball fell to Owen, who scored with an instinctive finish into the bottom corner.

At this point, most United supporters would have expected their side to push on and secure the win. CSKA had obviously not read the script though and were back in front just a minute later. Some static United defending allowed Milos Krasic through on goal and he rounded Van Der Sar to score.

United had a few half chances to get back on terms but failed to take any and went into the break trailing.

Something must have been wrong with Sir Alex’s hairdryer as some more poor defending saw CSKA stun the Old Trafford crowd and extend their lead just two minutes into the second half.  A free-kick on the left touchline was allowed to drift all the way to the back post and Berezutsky ghosted in to finish with a diving header back across goal.

If United hadn’t been taking their opponents seriously in the first half then things definitely changed after the third goal.  They should have had a chance to pull one back almost instantly when Darren Fletcher was fouled in the box. However, the referee, to the dismay of the entire crowd and every United supporter anxiously perched on the edge of their seats at home, decided to book Fletcher for diving.

With things getting desperate it was time for a change. Sir Alex brought on Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra to add more attacking emphasis to United’s play.  Rooney almost made the perfect impact when his close range shot was brilliantly saved by Akinfeev after a good header from Michael Owen.  United then went even closer with ten minutes left on the clock as Federico Macheda rose brilliantly to crash a header against the post with Akinfeev helpless.

United then introduced Gabriel Obertan, for his first Champions League appearance for the side.  He looked an instant threat on the left hand side, running at opposition defenders with a combination of pace and silky footwork. He was at the heart of most attacks as United poured forward in search of a way back into the game as time was running out.

The home side were handed a lifeline by a brilliant Paul Scholes header in the 83rd minute, when he rose highest to power into the far corner from another pinpoint Gary Neville cross.  This seemed to spur United on further and they spent the last six minutes of the game firmly camped in the CSKA half, with Obertan and Rooney looking dangerous every time they had the ball.

It seemed as though CSKA were going to hold onto their lead as the clock ticked over into added time. But just when United supporters thought it was going to be ‘one of those days’ Antonio Valencia let fly with an ambitious 30 yard strike that took a huge deflection to leave Akinfeev helplessly stranded as the ball nestled into the bottom corner to seal an unlikely point.

There was still time for some more action though as CSKA lost their cool after seeing their lead disappear. Semberas was sent off for a second booking after an off the ball altercation with the impressive Obertan.

With the point delivering qualification to the next stage, United can now look forward to Sunday’s top of the table clash with Chelsea, which could see them overhaul the Londoner’s at the summit with a win.

By Harry Veal