Manchester United came from behind to beat CSKA Moscow and top their Champions League group as Jose Mourinho\u2019s men took their unbeaten home run to a club record-equalling 40th match.<\/p>\n
It always appeared a case of when rather than if United would progress to the last-16 for the first time since 2013-14, despite their winning start to Group A ending with their last-gasp defeat at Basel.<\/p>\n
Not even Alan Dzagoev\u2019s controversial opener had the Old Trafford faithful concerned as only a record seven-goal defeat would deny United, who turned things around through quick-fire Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford goals to triumph 2-1.<\/p>\n
Victory puts United among the group winners for the last-16 draw and saw them equal the club record of 40 successive home games without defeat ahead of Sunday\u2019s visit of runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.<\/p>\n
Mourinho\u2019s men dominated from the outset and were aggrieved to be behind at half-time, with many players claiming offside against Dzagoev as Vitinho\u2019s shot went home off his back.<\/p>\n
It mattered little as Lukaku stayed strong to direct home a fine Paul Pogba pass, with Rashford keeping his cool to wrap up victory.<\/p>\n
Buoyed by impressive back-to-back away wins at Watford and Arsenal, Mourinho made six changes with half an eye on this weekend\u2019s crunch clash with City.<\/p>\n
A subdued pre-match atmosphere was compounded by the accidental omission of the Champions League theme tune, but a bright start soon saw volume inside Old Trafford rise.<\/p>\n
Smart build-up play by Lukaku saw Rashford put behind the CSKA backline, with the forward\u2019s shot bobbling across goal and off the far post inside four minutes.<\/p>\n
Mourinho\u2019s Reds continued to push and Juan Mata\u2019s exquisite control from a long ball brought the next clear-cut chance, with Rashford being denied by Igor Akinfeev.<\/p>\n
The hosts were looking dangerous down the flanks and Luke Shaw was impressing on his first start in 219 days, with the left-back seeing an acrobatic attempt from an acute angle denied.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old was showing only the odd sign of rust and looked sharp on the attack, latching onto a Pogba pass only to hit a cross just out of Rashford\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n
Antonio Valencia saw half-hearted penalty appeals ignored as the first half petered out, only for CSKA to go ahead in controversial circumstances.<\/p>\n
The Russians had failed to create a clear-cut opening but went in ahead after Mario Fernandes capitalised on a sloppy defensive line and burst down the right to send in a cross for Vitinho to strike home off Dzagoev\u2019s back.<\/p>\n
United players were angered that offside was not called against Dzagoev, but officials appeared to point to off-the-field Daley Blind playing him onside.<\/p>\n
Rashford stung the palms when play resumed after half-time as Mourinho\u2019s side pushed on.<\/p>\n
Chris Smalling nodded wide from Mata\u2019s volleyed cross and Rashford\u2019s free-kick took a slight deflection wide as United pushed for a deserved leveller that arrived in the 64th minute.<\/p>\n
Pogba sent a superb wedged ball over the top to Lukaku, who showed impressive strength to hold of Viktor Vasin and direct past Akinfeev.<\/p>\n
Just 66 seconds later United were ahead. Rashford raced onto fire in a looped Mata pass, showing impressive skill and good composure.<\/p>\n
Pogba curled over as the wind appeared to be taken out of CSKA\u2019s sails, although Sergio Romero had to be alert to deny Dzagoev on a rare voyage forwards late on.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: Talksport<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Manchester United came from behind to beat CSKA Moscow and top their Champions League group as Jose Mourinho\u2019s men took their unbeaten home run to a club record-equalling 40th match. It always appeared a case of when rather than if United would progress to the last-16 for the first time since 2013-14, despite their winning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":380532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n