siang09

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van der Sar - 7 - Artificial pitch caused no problems. Intelligently dealt with any shots or crosses that came his way.

Neville - 6 - Solid at the back, but conservative when on the front foot. Nearly scored on the rare occasion he got forward.

Ferdinand - 6- Run of games is paying dividends. The mistakes are seeping out of himby the minute. Got in the way of CSKA's attacks and was typicallyassured in possession. Rested before the hour mark with the trip toLiverpool in mind.

Vidic - 4- Has yet to kick into top gear this season. Tentative from thebeginning, he under hit a number of back passes and struggled to get togrips with Necid.

Fabio Da Silva - 6- Confident first start in the Champions League. Showcased hisattacking ability throughout, and kept Krasic reasonably quiet. Luckyto be saved twice by the offside flag when he gave away the ball indangerous areas. Carried off with an injury.

O'Shea - 6 - Marshalled the defence and stuck to Ferguson's game plan to prevent Dzagoev from running the show.

Valencia - 8- Nearly broke the cross bar with a thunderous shot and finishedexpertly in the 86th minute. His speed caused CSKA problems and hedelivered quality crosses throughout. Nani could learn a thing or twofrom him.

Scholes - 6- Ran the show from his deep lying position. Never flustered when inpossession and found Nani and Valencia with his raking balls across thepitch. Taken off for Owen.

Anderson - 5- Didn't get involved enough. Was given licence by his manager to getforward, but seemed reticent to do this. He must start taking controlof matches to live up to the early hype surrounding his career.

Nani - 6- All too familiar story. Toyed with his markers by dribbling past themwith effortless ease, but all too often his final ball was dreadful.The sight of Berbatov flinging his arms in the air with frustration athim was a common occurrence.

Berbatov - 7- Was let down by his team-mates' lack of desire to support him in hislone striking role and sloppiness in supplying him with the ball. Greatheader to set up Valencia.

Substitutes

Brown - 6 - No nonsense replacement for Ferdinand when introduced to the fray.

Owen - 5 - Always looking to strike, but hit an air shot when the ball finally came to him.

Carrick - n/a

siang09

Akinfeev - 7- Showed no effects of his pre-game health scare. Had one heart racingmoment when Scholes' shot bounced in front of him, but saved expertlyfrom Nani. Would have impressed Sir Alex Ferguson.