CSKA Moscow 0-1 Manchester Utd
Antonio Valencia scored late on to give United all three points at the Luzhniki Stadium
Wednesday, 21, Oct 2009 07:18
By Alistair Potter.
A late strike from Antonio Valencia ensured Manchester United claimed all three points from a largely poor game against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.
The winger pounced after Dimitar Berbatov headed down inside the box, slotting the ball home from a tight angle past reported United target Igor Akinfeev as the visitors maintained their 100 per cent record in Group B.
Valencia also struck the bar from the edge of the box with nine minutes to go as United arguably were the more deserving of the win.
Gary Neville also went close in the first half with a long-range left-footed strike, while Nani was denied by an excellent one-handed stop low down by Akinfeev midway through the second period.
The first half was a slow, turgid affair as both sides passed the ball reasonably well but had no cutting edge.
A shot from distance by Paul Scholes that bounced awkwardly in front of Akinfeev was the most likely moment to break the deadlock.
United livened up slightly in the second period, and exerted some pressure on the home team, who seemed content to sit back and hit the visitors on the counter-attack.
Nani, who was wasteful with his delivery in the first half, seemed to cause more difficulty for CSKA after the break - getting forward and taking on his man at will.
But aside from his on-target header from Gary Neville's cross just after the hour mark that was tipped wide by Akinfeev, he flattered to deceive - much like the rest of the match.
CSKA did have the ball in the net at one stage, but Alan Dzagoyev was correctly judged to be offside.
And that seemed to spur on Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who began to exert more and more pressure as the home side retreated into their shell.
Substitute Michael Owen had a chance to claim all three points when he peeled off his marker in the 76th minute but his miscued volley spun behind him.
But the England hopeful was on hand to cheer a winner soon afterwards when Nani's cross was headed down into the six-yard box for Valencia to beat his marker to the ball and fire home with Owen waiting to pounce on any rebound.
Anderson had a chance to double United's lead two minutes later but fired just wide from 12 yards as the visitors finished the stronger.
There was one last worrying moment for Ferguson as a free-kick was allowed to run a long way in the box, but Edwin van der Sar claimed under pressure from three forwards to end any threat and secure the win.