Manchester United have battled back from a goal behind to earn a 1-1 draw away at CSKA Moscow in their Champions League clash at the Arena Khimki.
© Getty Images
Following a rather tame start to the contest the home side began to settle quicker than their opponents, with Dusan Tadic firing in an early warning when his shot deflected narrowly wide.
The Russian outfit did not have to wait much longer to make a breakthrough, though, and it came on the back of Anthony Martial's handball inside the box to gift CSKA a penalty.
Roman Eremenko saw his effort kept out by David de Gea, who also managed to get to the rebound first to clear away, but it fell into the path of Seydou Doumbia to rifle home the opener.
It could have been two for the Red-Blues soon after, if not for De Gea's crucial stop to deny Ahmed Musa's smart shot which was dipping in off the frame.
© Getty Images
United were largely frustrated for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes as they chased a leveller, but Wayne Rooney did flash one wide of the post shortly before the interval to offer some hope for the second half.
CSKA were unbeaten in their last three European home games heading into tonight's meeting, and they could have been well on their way to making that four without defeat when Marcos Rojo handled inside the box, only for loud appeals to be turned down by the officials.
The Red Devils were still struggling to break their opponents down as the game entered the hour mark, with their play remaining rather uninspired and lacking any real ideas in attack.
© Getty Images
However, despite being far from their best, and seeing CSKA edge the game's best chances, Louis van Gaal's men levelled things up on 65 minutes when Martial headed home Antonio Valencia's cross for his fifth United goal.
The match then had a different feel to it all of a sudden as the Premier League title chasers pushed on, and they nearly had one big opening to claim maximum points as Martial looked to pick out substitute Marouane Fellaini, only for Igor Akinfeev to intercept the pass.
That proved to be it in terms of chances, ensuring that the two sides remain on four points apiece after three games in Group B.
Daniel Lewis
