Manchester United held by spirited Shakhtar Donetsk

Manchester United have been forced to hold on for a point late on against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tonight, with Danny Welbeck's early goal cancelled out by Taison's strike 15 minutes from time.

United boss David Moyes made nine changes to his side for the trip to Ukraine, with Wayne Rooney missing out due to a shin injury.

Robin van Persie was a notable inclusion for the visitors and started brightly, smashing over from close range after controlling a floated pass from Tom Cleverley.

Shakhtar carried a threat with pace down both flanks and had a penalty appeal turned away early on, with Cleverley breathing a sigh of relief after clipping Alex Teixeira, although the forward did fall theatrically.

A clinical counter then saw United take the lead after 18 minutes as Welbeck broke the deadlock from close range, making the most of Yaroslav Rakitskiy's miscue from a Marouane Fellaini cross.

Shakhtar began to add purpose in the final third but United largely controlled the first period, holding on to their narrow advantage heading into the break.

When play resumed Shakhtar piled on the pressure, probing without creating any clear-cut opportunities.

United sent on Ryan Giggs in a bid to shore things up, but conceded with 15 minutes to go as Shakhtar were rewarded for pushing on in the second half.

Brazilian playmaker Taison slammed home the equaliser, meeting Vyacheslav Shevchuk's low cross to hammer past David de Gea into the roof of the net.

United held firm in the closing stages to earn a credible point, with some late rearguard action proving enough for Moyes's men.