Manchester United 3-3 Cska Moscow

Group B leaders Manchester United FC struck twice in the closing six minutes to drag themselves back from two goals down and preserve their long unbeaten UEFA Champions League home record in a thrilling 3-3 draw with PFC CSKA Moskva.

Drama
United have not lost at home in the competition since February 2005 but that record looked set to fall when Alan Dzagoev, Miloš Krasić and Vasili Berezutski gave the visitors a 3-1 advantage. Yet after Paul Scholes had headed a goal back with six minutes remaining, Antonio Valencia rescued a point for the English champions when his long-range shot deflected off Georgi Schennikov. It was tough on visiting goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who had made a string of fine saves, and CSKA then lost Deividas Šemberas to a red card but the ten men at least held on for a well-earned point on a remarkable competition debut for Leonid Slutski.

Portents
The portents hardly favoured a CSKA side with just one win from 13 previous UEFA Champions League away games and whose new coach Slutski had lost to Irish minnows Saint Patrick's Athletic on his last trip to the British Isles with former club PFC Krylya Sovetov Samara in July. Yet, urged by captain Akinfeev to emulate compatriots FC Rubin Kazan's shock win at FC Barcelona, they almost caught United cold inside the opening minutes. To the hosts' relief a three-on-two break ended with Dzagoev shooting over and Šemberas was equally wayward after riding a couple of tackles minutes later.

Acute angle
The hosts were lacking spark without a long list of regulars but still they had chances. Owen missed his kick when teed up by Valencia, then Darren Fletcher and Federico Macheda - the former back from injury, the latter appearing for the first time in the competition - sent shots centimetres wide before Akinfeev saved well at Owen's feet. With 25 minutes played CSKA broke the deadlock. Tomáš Necid laid the ball off wth his chest to Dzagoev 30 metres from goal and the 19-year-old headed for the United area. Pulling clear of Jonny Evans, he looked to have carried the ball too far wide only to lash past Edwin van der Sar from an acute angle.

United stunned
Owen appeared to have restored the natural order when he struck from close range after Nani had flicked on Valencia's cross, his first goal in the competition since October 2004. Yet within two minutes CSKA were back in front, Necid flicking on for Krasić to beat the offside trap and round Van der Sar to score. Although Macheda and Scholes both tested Akinfeev's reflexes, CSKA stunned United with a third goal two minutes after half-time as Berezutski profited from slack marking at the far post to head in Dzagoev's free-kick.

Rooney on
On came Wayne Rooney – starting on the bench after the birth of his son yesterday – and Patrice Evra but United could find no way past Akinfeev who repelled Scholes' free-kick and then produced a fabulous double save to keep out Owen's header and Rooney's follow-up. United were now laying siege to the CSKA goal and after Macheda's header hit the post, Akinfeev denied Rooney again, yet the goalkeeper was powerless in the dramatic conclusion to an absorbing contest.