MANCHESTER UNITED 2 CSKA MOSCOW 1

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 CSKA MOSCOW 1

UEFA Champions League | Old Trafford | Attendance: 74,669 | Scorers: Lukaku 64, Rashford 66; Dzagoev 45Manchester United secured safe passage through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, with a 2-1 victory over CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford confirming the Reds’ status as Group A winners.

Two goals in two second-half minutes from Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford were enough to seal the three points for United, overturning Alan Dzagoev’s opener on the stroke of half-time for the visitors.
United started the game strongly and were on the front foot from the off, with Rashford latching onto a  Lukaku ball and racing clear of the CSKA defence after just four minutes, only to see his low effort cannon back off the post.
The Reds’ best chance of the opening half came after 20 minutes, with Luke Shaw’s low volley stinging the palms of Russia international goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, and an outstretching Lukaku unable to get enough on the rebound to convert from close range.
It was CSKA, however, who took the lead late on in the first half with a goal against the run of play. A low Mario Fernandes cross from the right-hand side was met by Vitinho, whose shot deflected into Sergio Romero’s goal off the back of Dzagoev to put the visitors ahead at the interval.
Jose Mourinho’s men responded well after the break, with Rashford forcing a smart save from Akinfeev after a surging run into the box, before Chris Smalling headed wide from close range after getting on the end of a dangerous Juan Mata cross.
United continued to threaten and got the reward in the 64th minute. Lukaku latched onto a floated through-ball from Paul Pogba, with the Belgian striker volleying home from close range to score his 13th goal of the season.
Just two minutes later, the turnaround was complete. Mata’s neat knock forward found Rashford in space inside the box and the England forward fired a low finish past Akinfeev to put United in control.
The visitors had a chance to level things up late on, but Dzagoev’s effort was well saved by the feet of Romero.
Elsewhere, a 2-0 win for FC Basel away at Benfica means it’s the Swiss side who will be joining United in the knockout phases, with the draw to be made on Monday.
TEAM LINE-UPSUnited: Romero; Valencia (c) (Tuanzebe 72), Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Herrera (McTominay 67), Blind; Mata, Pogba, Rashford; Lukaku (Martial 74).
Booked: McTominay
Subs not used: Pereira, Darmian, Young, Lingard.
CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev; V. Berezutski, Vasin, Ignashevich; Fernandes, Golovin, Kuchaev, Nababkin; Vitinho (Zhamaletdinov 82), Chalov (Gordyushenko 64), Dzagoev.
Booked: Berezutski
Subs not used: Pomazun, Makarov, Khosonov, Olanare.
TALKING POINTSShaw’s 50th appearanceHe’s been absent from the first-team squad of late, but Luke Shaw will have been delighted to make his 50th appearance for the club under the lights at Old Trafford. The left-back impressed on his return to senior duties and was a constant attacking threat in wide positions, causing the CSKA defence problems with a number of intelligent forward runs and efforts on goal.
United equal club recordThe victory made it 40 games unbeaten in all competitions for United at Old Trafford, with our impressive run stretching back to last season’s game against Manchester City. This equals a club record and means we would make history with a positive result in this weekend’s Manchester derby.
What’s next for United?It’s a big one - attention now turns to Sunday, where we’ll host City at Old Trafford in the Premier League. With United’s neighbours currently eight points ahead of us in the table, Mourinho’s men will be aiming to close the gap and give the red half of Manchester bragging rights with a victory in one of the season’s showpiece fixtures.