United break Russian duck to maintain perfect start

21 October 2009 20:50

Chidi Odiah(R) of CSKA Moskva vies with Nani of Manchester United FC during their Champions League groupe B football match in Moscow. Manchester won 1-0.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Manchester United's win over CSKA Moscow here on Wednesday as testimony to the maturity of a squad that is now unbeaten in their last 14 Champions League away matches.

Antonio Valencia's late strike ensured United beat CSKA Moscow 1-0 to equal Ajax's record on the road, as well as delivering the English champions' first European win over Russian opposition.

The victory left Ferguson's men on the verge of the knockout stages after a third win from three matches in their group, and the Scot with a broad smile on is face.

"I think it (the away record) is something we should be proud of," he said.

"It is not easy away from home in Europe and we've been to some fantastic places over the years.

"I think it shows maturity. There is a way of playing in europe away from home and I think you saw that tonight. We showed good patience and retained good possession and I think that was the key factor."

Ferguson played down concerns over the condition of Brazilian left-back Fabio, who had to be stretchered off near the end.

"The boy is a magnificent player for 18 years of age, he was absolutely first class," the United boss said before revealing that the teenager had merely succumbed to a bout of cramp.

CSKA coach Juande Ramos commented: "We were playing very good for 80 minutes but later in the match we got tire and lost concentration and that cost us all three points.

"Today Manchester were the more classy team. They were very good in posession, while we made too many mistakes in the very end."

The former Sevilla, Real Madrid and Tottenham boss added: "Manchester have already (virtually) qualified for the play-offs, while three other teams in our group have equal chances for the second pass into the knockout stage. We are set to perform better in the remaining matches and enter the play-offs."

United had returned to the Luzhniki Stadium, scene of their 2008 Champions League final victory over Chelsea, with depleted resources.

Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs were the most conspicuous absentees but Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-Sung also had to be left behind in Manchester because of injuries and the proximity of Sunday's Premier League showdown with Liverpool.

Ferguson was at least able to restore Nemanja Vidic to his customary role alongside Rio Ferdinand following the Serbian centreback's recovery from an ankle injury. Ferdinand and Paul Scholes were both replaced before the end but Ferguson indicated both switches had been purely precautionary.

CSKA had to do without injured Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez.

The Russians kicked off with a run of six consecutive European wins on home soil behind them but their guarded approach to the contest hardly indicated a side with deep reserves of confidence.

CSKA's much-admired Serbian midfielder Milos Krasic had the first shot on goal but his effort, following a mazy run to the edge of the area, was struck well wide.

United gradually began to assert themselves as the opening period wore on but the only time Igor Akinfeev, was called into action was when a hopeful 35-yard strike by Scholes bounced in front of him and accelerated off the artificial surface, forcing the goalkeeper to palm the ball over the bar.

Krasic responded by working his way past two defenders and into the box but the subsequent shot was pulled across the goalmouth.

United continued to look the more composed of the two sides after the interval and, with just under an hour elapsed, would have taken the lead but for a fine save from Akinfeev, who threw himself full-length to his left to keep out Nani's diving header from a Gary Neville cross.

Valencia soon went even closer to breaking the deadlock. After exchanging passes with Nani on the edge of the area, the Ecuadorian winger unleashed a fierce right-foot drive that struck the angle of post and bar.

At that stage it seemed as if United's controlled dominance would go unrewarded but, with five minutes left, Valencia made sure of the points by beating Akinfeev from close range after Berbatov had flicked Nani's cross on to him on the right-hand edge of the six-yard box.

Anderson might have doubled the winning margin but the Brazilian midfielder contrived to place his shot from a similar distance wide of the post after Berbatov's back heel had left him with only the goalkeeper to beat.