CSKA Moscow vs. Manchester United: Score and Reaction from 2015 Champions League
Manchester United drew 1-1 with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League at Arena Khimki on Wednesday thanks to Anthony Martial's sixth goal for the club since arriving in the summer.
Seydou Doumbia gave CSKA an early lead, tapping in a rebound from a penalty following an excellent save from David De Gea. Martial, whose handball gave away the spot-kick, redeemed himself by heading in Antonio Valencia's second-half cross.
It was yet another turgid and unconvincing performance from United, who struggled to create clear-cut chances in a dull game, though CSKA's pace through Doumbia, Ahmed Musa and Mario Fernandes caused some brief flashes of excitement.
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Jesse Lingard started for the Red Devils after impressing against Everton in United's last outing, while Juan Mata and Matteo Darmian rested.
The visitors perhaps had the brighter start with CSKA showing some sloppy touches, but United soon found themselves behind.
Martial was penalised for handling a goal-bound shot from Fernandes, and though De Gea was able to keep out Roman Eremenko's spot-kick with a magnificent stop, Doumbia was comfortably the first to pounce on the loose ball and calmly finish.
The goal reinvigorated the hosts who started showing much more confidence in their play as Fernandes continued to cause them all manner of problems down the right wing, and De Gea was called into action once again as he tipped over a 25-yard shot from Doumbia.
Football writer Liam Canning noted the contrast in performance from the Red Devils' 3-0 win over Everton, while the Daily Mail's Adam Crafton neatly summarised the current state of the team:
"Blimey. When this United are bad, they are really really bad.
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) October 21, 2015"
United's first real chance of the match fell to Wayne Rooney, but the England international was quickly closed down by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev after racing onto Lingard's cross.
The striker was playing centrally with Martial forced onto the left, but the 29-year-old was uninspiring at best as he offered United little, with OptaJoe highlighting his anonymous showing:
United threw on Marouane Fellaini for Bastian Schweinsteiger at half-time, likely with the hope he could offer more of an outlet in the final third.
The Red Devils almost fell victim to another early penalty as a cross hit the hand of Marcos Rojo, but the Argentinian's blushes were spared by the referee who dismissed calls from the Moscow players for a second spot-kick.
United finally began to build up some pressure on the hosts, and Rooney forced a save from Akinfeev with a powerful header on the hour mark.
The visitors were rewarded five minutes later when Martial got his head to Valencia's lovely cross near the penalty spot, the ball creeping in off the left-hand post. Canning highlighted the 19-year-old's growing importance to United and his effectiveness when played through the middle:
Akinfeev then showed strong reactions to ensure Fellaini couldn't reach a ball from Martial as United finished strongly but couldn't find a late winner.
The point leaves United second in Group B and just two points off table-topping Wolfsburg, with two home fixtures still to play.
Once again, though, the Red Devils struggled to find any penetration or dynamism in their forward play with Rooney guilty of another poor performance, so there's much work still to do before United can hope to threaten anyone in the knockout stages.
Post-Match Reaction
United boss Louis van Gaal believes the point keeps United on track to reach the knockout stages, the per the Guardian's Jamie Jackson:
What could be a concern for United fans is his reluctance to restore Martial to his rightful position as a centre-forward:
The Red Devils need to show much more incisiveness in the final third to trouble rivals Manchester City on Sunday, and without Martial playing in the centre it's difficult to see where that will come from, unless Rooney can seriously raise his game.
The 29-year-old has been disappointing for some time now though, so he'll have to make a dramatic turnaround in form to in order to answer his critics.
