|
So United
can now look forward to booking themselves another
KO stages journey into the unknown after a dramatic
late surge salvaged a point at Old Trafford last
night. CSKA Moscow with the Slutski in charge
looked a totally different side that United defeated
in Moscow earlier last month as the away side ran
riot scoring, three goals against United with the
almost entire second half still to play.
However a
late rally led & inspired by the substitution of
Wayne "The Daddy" Rooney that coupled with a Scholes
headed & another fortunate own goal ensured that
United shared the spoils.
With many
bumps & bruises affecting his selection SAF gave
starts to Gary Neville & Fabio in the fullback
positions with Evans & Brown in the middle of
defence.
Valencia
& Nani were employed wide with a very welcome return
to action for Darren Fletcher who partnered Paul
Scholes in central mid-field and finally Michael
Owen ended up with 90 minutes under his belt as he
partnered Kiko Macheda the Italian making his
European debut.
With
Ramos is distant memory & Leonid Slutski taking the
reigns this side looked far better & gave United an
early warning as to the Russian sides intent
as long distance shots flew in to test EVDS.
With
great team energy & a fantastic performance from
Captain Igor Akinfeev & especially Milos Krasic,
this coupled with some unmerciful finishing from the
tightest of angles, the Bird that was Manchester
United had its feathers well and truly ruffled.
On 25
minutes after some light sparing United found
themselves behind when Aldonin combined with Necid
to send Alan Dzagoev racing to the left of the
Stretford End goal, with Jonny Evans doing all thing
correct with regard to defending, e.g. pushing his
man wide, it wouldn't be enough on this night as
with the tightest of angles, ala Ryan Giggs in
1998/99 against Arsenal at Villa Park & & Juventus
in the same net, he smashed a remarkable shot into
the roof leaving EVDS & the Old Trafford crowd
stunned.
Before
missing a great chance which Michael Owen should
have scored earlier, United's number 7 finished with
accuracy to even up the scores as United looked to
stamp authority on the game.
With the
Russian side "not having any of it" only two minutes
later they took the lead again cancelling Owen's 1st
UCL goal for United through the brilliant Fergie
Fergie sign him up Milos Krasnic.
The
Serbian ghosted into United's penalty area as most
of United's defence expected an offside flag & after
Necid steered the ball into his path, he rounded
EVDS before spinning & scoring a second in the
Stretford End.
The
shocked crowd could hardly believe it as OT fell
silent however the Reds would soon rally & start to
create as the right hand side became United's best
opportunity of a goal due to Gary Neville's constant
barrage of crosses into the Moscow penalty area.
Kiko
Macheda capitalising on one of Neville's crosses
almost gave United a goal but the brilliant Igor
Akinfeev saved well from the young Italian as he did
& managed to repeat on more than one occasion.
With the
game not out of reach & United looking good going
forward, not so good at the back, things went from
bad to worse when within minutes of the restart as
dodgy defending & indeed EVDS will not be happy with
his goalkeeping as a free kick supplied by Dzagoev
was dropped high into the back post where defender
Berzutski met the ball with a diving header
unchallenged.
Still
with a ridiculous angle to score from such a
position, the ball unrelentingly found the inside of
the net sending the visiting side into height they
could not have imagined.
Still
looking a good bet for a goal or two, the Reds were
the victims of an outlandish refereeing decision
when Darren Fletcher was pan caked in the penalty
area by Berezutski after a pass from Owen & as the
referee blew for what everyone in the world thought
was a penalty, he brandished his yellow card showing
to Darren Fletcher who along with everyone else was
dumbfounded by the Fawlty Towers Manuel or indeed a
Inspector Clouseau moment.
SAF then
sent on the cavalry in the form of Rooney (congrats
to Mr & Mrs Rooney on the birth of their son Kia
Wayne Rooney) who made immediate impact when
Akinfeev blocked his shot.
In a
gripping finale which saw Rooney & Evra & eventually
Obertan introduced, United started their revival
when once again Gary Neville whisked a cross into
the box which Paul Scholes met and managed to steer
into the net.
At 2-3
and still trailing, you could sense something was
afoot as United hit the turbo boost as they
pressured for the equaliser & as always & never
giving up, United were rewarded when Antonio
Valencia shot from distance was deflected into the
Stretford End net, giving the Reds a free pass to
the KO Stages of the UCL. |
Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
Owen (29),
