CSKA Moscow 1-1 Manchester United: Anthony Martial rescues a point for Louis van Gaal in Champions League Group B encounter

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Anthony Martial's header earned Manchester United a point in their game against CSKA Moscow
The Frenchman scored United's equaliser in the 65th minute of the Champions League Group B clash
Martial had earlier given away a penalty for handball in the first half at the Arena Khimki
Seydou Doumbia gave CSKA Moscow the lead after Roman Eremenko's penalty was saved by David de Gea
Wolfsburg top Group B on six points after beating PSV with CSKA Moscow and Man United on four points
Champions League 2015-16: Latest news, scores, fixtures and highlights

By Ian Ladyman for the Daily Mail

Published: 15:35 EST, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 16:21 EST, 21 October 2015

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Anthony Martial’s career at Manchester United appears destined rarely to disappoint.

Already since his big move from Monaco in August we have witnessed an impact goal against Liverpool and star turns at places like Southampton. Now we have a vital European contribution to reflect upon too.

As it happens, this could have been a very bad night indeed for the young striker. Tracking back down the left flank where he was stationed on Wednesday, Martial conceded an early penalty, a needless handball allowing CSKA striker Seydou Doumbia to drill in a rebound after David de Gea had touched Roman Eremenko’s spot kick against a post.

A rather impetuous, feckless act, it summed up United’s first half efforts. In a game they really couldn’t afford to lose, Louis van Gaal’s team were poor for the first 55 minutes, not even bringing a save out of CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev until early in the second period.

Anthony Martial (right) made amends for his earlier error when he scored the goal that sealed a point for Manchester United

Martial celebrates his goal with Antonio Valencia (right) on an eventful evening for the young French striker in Moscow

MATCH FACTS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP B TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM MOSCOW

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Vasili Berezutski (Alexsei Berezutski 42), Ignashevich, Schennikov, Tosic, Wernbloom, Eremenko (Panchenko 83), Musa, Dzagoev (Cauna 87), Doumbia. Subs not used: Chepchugov, Nababkin, Milanov, Golovin.

Goals: Doumbia 15.

Manchester Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Rojo (Blind 63), Schweinsteiger (Fellaini 45), Schneiderlin, Lingard (Depay 80), Rooney, Herrera, Martial. Subs not used: Romero, Mata, Carrick, Darmian.

Booked: Martial, Herrera, Fellaini.

Goals: Martial 65.

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Madrid).

Match day three results:

CSKA Moscow 1-1 Manchester United

Wolfsburg 2-0 PSV Eindhoven

Anthony Martial headed in Manchester United's equaliser, as shown by our MATCH ZONE graphic - CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Martial, though, has a keen sense of occasion already and when was given the chance for atonement just after the hour he didn’t disappoint, heading a cross from Antonio Valencia down and in to the corner from the penalty spot.

With a Manchester derby to come at Old Trafford at the weekend, Van Gaal chose to rest players and that gave young Jesse Lingard the chance to start in Europe.

The United manager also asked Frenchman Anthony Martial to start on the left side, as he did at Everton at the weekend, meaning Wayne Rooney began up front in the final game before his 30th birthday and Ander Herrera featured in the No 10 position.

United actually started the game brightly and enjoyed some controlled possession for 10 minutes or so.

Martial was booked after handling the ball in the 14th minute to gift CSKA Moscow a chance to take the lead with a penalty

David de Gea flung himself to his right to pull off a one-handed save from Roman Eremenko's penalty

The Manchester United goalkeeper got down sharply to deny Eremenko and prevent him from giving the home side the lead

Seydou Doumbia (left) was quickest to react to the rebound for CSKA and he smashed it home to give the hosts the lead

The German international Bastian Schweinsteiger may not be quite the player he once was but he does bring an element of control to the centre of the field for United and so it was here, at least for a while.

Early on, Martial had a penalty appeal of his own as he showed his usual dexterity to skip into the area before tumbling under a challenge that the Spanish referee didn’t appear to have a clear view of.

Soon after that, United’s summer signing received the ball after combining with Lingard but could only shoot wide with his left foot from the edge of the area.

At this stage there was no sign of the drama to come. The home crowd were excitable but apart from a couple of combinations down the right between Mario Fernandes and former United player Zoran Tosic, there was little direct danger.

De Gea was helpless on the rebound from Doumbia as CSKA Moscow went ahead in the 15th minute at the Khimki Arena

Manchester United players react to falling behind early on in their Champions League Group B contest in Moscow

Louis van Gaal's side were left with a mountain to climb after falling behind to an early goal from Doumbia

About a quarter of an hour in, however, that all changed.

The Russians gave themselves a little momentum with a cross that Phil Jones cleared before Tosic fired a shot in across goal that had De Gea worried for a moment.

If that was a warning, United did not heed it. Moments later, another foray down the same channel saw Martial commit a clear handball. Notably, Martial didn’t seem to complain as he was booked and a penalty awarded.

With this compact stadium seemingly ready to burst, Eremenko took the spot kick and although De Gea did brilliantly to turn the ball onto the post, centre forward Doumbia — the scourge of Manchester City here a year ago —arrived to slam the rebound low in to the corner.

Suddenly, United had a real challenge ahead of them. This was, after all, a game they could not really afford to lose.

Martial headed home Manchester United's equaliser with 25 minutes to play at the Arena Khimki in Moscow

Martial's header found the far corner of Igor Akinfeev's goal to bring Manchester United level in the 65th minute

Martial is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the equaliser in Manchester United's Group B contest in Moscow

Still, United continued to enjoy more than their fair share of the ball but they really were not doing a terrible amount with it. Lingard was having a decent game but he looked isolated at times, whereas the attacks from the home team seemed to contain greater urgency and conviction.

To that end, United were relieved to see a cross from the dangerous full-back Fernandes cleared at the far post before De Gea was called in to action again, saving expertly as Ahmed Musa let fly from fully 30 yards.

So often football is a game of momentum and since their goal, there was no doubt at all that CSKA had enjoyed it. Happy to play their football largely on the counter-attack, they broke with pace and efficiency throughout the first half and carried a threat that United just couldn’t match at that stage.

Indeed, as the teams left the field at the interval the CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev had not been called upon to make a serious save. United had moved the ball well enough in the middle third of the field but had lacked penetration.

CSKA showed in this competition last season that they could be competitive, handing City two very tough games.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones (right) attempts to win the ball from CSKA Moscow forward Doumbia (left)

Doumbia, a constant thorn in United's side, tries to wriggle away from Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling

Manchester United forward Martial takes a tumble after running at the CSKA Moscow defence with the ball

United, however, lacked authority in their play here. Their name continues to carry great weight in Europe — despite their absence from this competition last season — and they must learn to capitalise on that with the way they play.

There was some brief hope as the hour mark came and went as Rooney finally found some space to head a cross from the right powerfully down towards the near post. The goalkeeper was up to the task on that occasion while seconds later a CSKA defender was able to clear after Fellaini headed another cross – deeper this time – down at the far post.

Finally United were building some momentum of their own and moments later they should have been level as Lingard was played clear down the inside left channel. The youngster had time and space to shoot but he opened his body up early and Akinfeev was able to read his intentions and save.

Van Gaal then made another change, sending on Daley Blind for Marcos Rojo and soon had something to cheer about as Morgan Schneiderlin played Antonio Valencia clear and his cross was headed in by Martial.