Manchester United have secured a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow in Tuesday night's Champions League Group B clash at Old Trafford, as Wayne Rooney's second-half header ended his side's goalscoring drought.
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The hosts showed good chemistry from the off, passing the ball around seamlessly before Rooney collected a loose ball inside the opposition box and rifled just wide.
Nine minutes in Marcos Rojo pounced on a rebound but CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was able to palm the ball out for a corner, which Jesse Lingard blasted into the stands following Rooney's delivery.
Juan Mata was next to try his luck on the quarter-hour mark when he received a precise lofted cross inside the box and fired a low effort down the centre, which Akinfeev was able to stop comfortably.
Man Utd continued to push forward and threatened through Lingard and Rojo, but they could not break the deadlock come half time as the home fans voiced their displeasure at what they perceived to be their side's lack of attacking endeavour.
The start to the second half brought more of the same, with the Red Devils pushing forward at every opportunity but lacking incisiveness in CSKA's final third, Rojo and Anthony Martial fluffing their chances as their side racked up the offside count.
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The Man Utd faithful's frustrations then boiled over when Martial was taken off in place of Marouane Fellaini in the 66th minute, booing the decision and chanting the French teenager's name in protest.
Midway through the second half the hosts appealed for a penalty when Young appeared to have been brought down in the box, but following a period of contemplation, the referee restarted play with a goal kick.
Following 80 minutes of labouring, the Red Devils were finally rewarded with a goal, as Lingard's volleyed cross was brought crashing into the roof of the net by Rooney's header, prompting scenes of joy and relief at Old Trafford.
Shortly after kickoff Lingard threatened again when he latched on to a precise pass and slammed the ball towards the right-hand post, where Akinfeev was on hand to leap into the air and make a save, but despite the subsequent corner coming to nothing, Man Utd were able to hang on for the win.
The result sees Van Gaal's side climb to the top of Group B with seven points from four games, while CSKA slip to bottom following PSV Eindhoven's 2-0 win against Wolfsburg.
Giuseppe Labellarte
