[CL] CSKA Moscow 0 Man United 1

• limpper

  22 Oct 09, 05:14

  CSKA Moscow 0 Man United 1

  

  IN THE NICK OF TIME ... Antonio Valencia crashes the ball home to earn Manchester United all three points

   

  ANTONIO VALENCIA'S late goal moved Manchester United a step closer to qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League.

  The Ecuador winger smashed home from close range after Dimitar Berbatov had flicked on Nani's left-wing cross.

  Chances had been at a premium on the artificial surface of the Russian capital's Luzhniki Stadium — scene of United's final victory in 2008 — but Alex Ferguson's side finished strongly.

  

  

  Valencia, 24, who celebrated his first United goal last weekend, doubled his tally for the club four minutes from time, just moments after rattling the crossbar with a fierce drive.

  United have now won all three of their European ties and sit six points clear at the top of Group B.

  The plastic pitch played havoc with both teams' play, but particularly affected the visitors' normal crisp passing style.

  With divots in the field making the ball bobble everywhere, United failed to create any real chances in the opening half.

  Paul Scholes had their best opportunity with a 35-yard shot that goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev saved.

  United found plenty of space on the left but Milos Krasic was a constant threat for Juande Ramos' CSKA.

  United began to assert themselves more midway through the opening period and Fabio twice crossed only for Valencia to be crowded out, allowing Akinfeev to claim.

  CSKA responded with Alan Dzagoev lifting a ball into the box but Tomas Necid's header was of little concern to Edwin van der Sar.

  United's most productive route appeared to be down the left and another Nani cross was just too high for Berbatov at the far post.

  Krasic — who looked CSKA's most dangerous player — beat two defenders to create another chance just inside the area but shot across goal.

  Nani again found good space for United before the break and the ball worked its way across goal for Gary Neville to shoot but the veteran's left-footed effort was just over.

  United had a scare moments before half-time when a Dzagoev free-kick into the box was cleared unconvincingly for a corner.

  The second period got off to a lively start, with chances at both ends.

  Nani raced through from a Valencia backheel but could not find a team-mate with his cross.

  Necid then brought down the ball brilliantly outside the United box but after doing the hard work, his shot was tame.

  Deividas Semberas then shot well over and Dazagoev had the ball in the net before the hour but the flag had long since been raised for offside and the home celebrations were shortlived.

  Berbatov flicked the ball into the area for the visitors but his attempts to win a penalty from Aleksei Berezutski came to nothing when he was booked for diving.

  United took Rio Ferdinand off with a third of the game remaining and created a chance soon after when Neville crossed for Nani but Akinfeev proved unbeatable again.

  United continued to press forward and Valencia's 30-yard effort came crashing back off the crossbar.

  But with four minutes remaining, Ferguson's side got their reward for a dominating second-half performance.

  Nani's cute cross into the box found Berbatov, whose downward header reached Valencia and the former Wigan star slammed the ball home from a tight angle.

   

• Rock^Star

  22 Oct 09, 09:17

  he seems to be gaining confidence.

• sand king

  22 Oct 09, 09:29

  Originally posted by Rock^Star:

  he seems to be gaining confidence.

  hoho, yes... now where the f*ck is Anderson!?

• iceFatboy

  22 Oct 09, 09:33

  Originally posted by sand king:

  hoho, yes... now where the f*ck is Anderson!?

  he was marshaling the MF la.. U think he broke his duck, now he going to score buckets meh... He is no scholesy la..

• sand king

  22 Oct 09, 09:46

  Originally posted by iceFatboy:

  he was marshaling the MF la.. U think he broke his duck, now he going to score buckets meh... He is no scholesy la..

  I was hopping he'd did so, yup I know he's doing very well controling the MF... but something about Brazilians... they've gotta score! haha!

• iceFatboy

  22 Oct 09, 10:52

  Originally posted by sand king:

  I was hopping he'd did so, yup I know he's doing very well controling the MF... but something about Brazilians... they've gotta score! haha!

  true hor.. but I think his passing improving.. hopefully, he can find a few in the next game... :P

• zocoss

  22 Oct 09, 12:31

  Proud Manchester United equal Ajax record in Champions League

   

  

  .

  .

  Manchester United equalled Ajax’s record of 14 successive unbeaten away matches in the Champions League last night after beating CSKA Moscow 1-0 to move within touching distance of the knockout stages.

  Sir Alex Ferguson hailed a thoroughly professional performance as Antonio Valencia’s second goal in as many matches, four minutes from time, saw off Juande Ramos’s side and ensured United matched the record set by the Dutch club between 1994 and 1997.

  Like Chelsea, 4-0 winners over Atlético Madrid at Stamford Bridge, a point from their next fixture — against CSKA at Old Trafford on November 3 — should be enough to secure qualification with two games to spare.

  With Liverpool to play in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday, it was the perfect run-out and result for United, who also avoided any further injuries on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium.

   

  

  Antonio Valencia fires home Manchester United's late winner in the Luzhniki Stadium

   

   

  “The issues of the surface were not a problem,” Ferguson, the United manager, said. “As I said before the game, good footballers can play on that quite easily.

  “I’m very pleased with the performance. We have a home game against CSKA next, so we have the opportunity to ensure we go through to the next stage. I think we should be proud [of equalling Ajax’s record].

  “There is a way of playing with maturity and you saw that tonight. In the first half I think we played with a lot of patience, which is necessary when you are playing away from home. Experience in these sort of situations is always vital.

  “In the second half we increased the tempo of the game and got more penetration. We created some good opportunities and if we have to wait to the 86th minute, so be it. We had to have the patience to win, and we did that.”

  Ferguson also paid tribute to Valencia, who continued his good form, and Fábio Da Silva, the teenaged defender who excelled on his Champions League debut. “Valencia has been a plus point for the last few weeks,” Ferguson said. “He is emerging very well, settling into the club and his confidence is getting stronger.

  “He has tremendous assets for a wide player but the assets he didn’t show at Wigan were his goals, where he would maybe get three or four a season.”