As expected, United dramatically reached the knockout stages of the Champions League - but not without the mother of all frights.
Goals in the final six minutes from Paul Scholes and Antonio Valencia - albeit via a huge deflection - saved United from a first Champions League home defeat since February 2005, after CSKA Moscow had stunned Old Trafford by roaring into a 3-1 lead.
The Russians, who looked a team transformed from the sides' meeting in Moscow a fortnight ago, repeatedly took advantage of defensive generosity from the Reds, striking before the break through Alan Dzagoev and Milos Krasic. Michael Owen had briefly levelled in-between, but Vasili Berezutski struck early in the second half to seemingly put the game beyond United.
Inevitably, the Reds rallied late on, especially after the introduction of substitute Wayne Rooney and, after Scholes had headed home on 84 minutes, Valencia's 20-yard strike took a huge deflection off Georgi Schennikov and flew past the impressive Igor Akinfeev.
From the first whistle, the signs suggested United were in for a tough evening. An unfortunate ricochet threatened to deal the Reds' hopes a blow inside 20 seconds, as Dzagoev led a break of three visitors against two home defenders, but he could only fire over the bar from 20 yards. Two minutes later, Deividas Semberas chanced his arm from similar range, and his low drive skidded just past Edwin van der Sar's post.
In response, Valencia latched onto a fine through-ball from Wes Brown, but the Ecuadorian's attempted shot was blocked by a sliding challenge from Schennikov deep inside the CSKA area. Owen was then the beneficiary of some intricate build-up play from Nani and Valencia, but the Reds' number 7 could only scuff his shot, allowing the visitors to clear.
After a rocky opening, United gradually took control, with the midfield axis of Scholes and Darren Fletcher increasingly influential. The pair almost combined to put United ahead on 14 minutes as the former passed infield for the latter, but Fletcher's powerful shot arced agonisingly past Akinfeev's right-hand post.
However, CSKA served a quickfire reminder of their own need to take points back to Russia, as Tomas Necid escaped the attentions of Jonny Evans and fired straight at van der Sar. In the same passage of play, Owen took advantage of a ricochet to burst into the area, but could only toe-poke his effort straight at Akinfeev.
Macheda then drilled a left-footed effort just past the post after a sumptuous turn, but the visitors moved into a shock lead on 25 minutes. Dzagoev latched onto a chested pass from Necid, but his opening appeared to have gone after being herded wide by Jonny Evans. Despite the tight angle, the Russian struck a powerful effort across van der Sar's chest and high into the net.
The goal galvanised United's support and players, and the hitherto pin-drop atmosphere was suddenly cranked up. On the field, United responded by drawing level within four minutes. A fine decoy run from Gary Neville fashioned space for Valencia to cross, Nani gently caressed the ball in behind the CSKA defence, and Owen swept his shot unerringly
Normal service was resumed, but only for a matter of seconds. The visitors notched an immediate reply as Dzagoev dummied a ball infield, Necid sprung the offside trap with another neat chested pass, and Krasic rounded the exposed van der Sar and tucked away his finish.
CSKA were suddenly oozing confidence; hurtling into challenges and constantly foraging for further gaps to exploit. While United were understandably shell-shocked initially, a strong finish to the half saw Akinfeev smartly deny Macheda and Scholes. Nevertheless, the Reds went into the interval staring at a shock defeat.
That prospect seemed a grim reality after three pivotal minutes of the second half. Firstly, Vasili Berezutski stole at the back post to head in Dzagoev's free-kick, then Darren Fletcher was booked for a perceived dive deep inside the CSKA area - a decision which baffled and enraged the vehement Stretford End.
Just a day after the birth of his first child, Rooney's introduction at the expense of Nani further fanned the flames of support, and inevitably prompted sustained United pressure. Akinfeev was stretched by Scholes' thunderous free-kick, but time and again the final ball proved just too heavy for the hosts.
Akinfeev produced another haunting validation of pre-match praise from Sir Alex Ferguson with 11 minutes remaining as he made a superb double save to thwart Owen and Rooney. Moments later, Macheda headed against the post, but the Russian international was also equal to Rooney's powerful follow-up.
When Akinfeev then turned Scholes' blockbuster over the bar, all hope had seemingly been extinguished. United continued to press, however, and Gary Neville's inch-perfect free-kick was powerfully headed home by Scholes on 84 minutes to set up a grandstand finish, which was duly capped by Valencia.
The first of four added minutes had barely started when the Ecuadorian took aim from 25 yards. His drive appeared to be heading off target but struck Schennikov in the chest and spun into the space previously occupied by the committed Akinfeev.
With time still remaining, United continued to pour forward for the most unlikely of victories, but the Russians, who were reduced to 10 men after the injury-time dismissal of Semberas for a second booking, deservedly held on. Even in taking the easy route and qualifying with two games to spare, United had reached it the hard way.
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