Jose Mourinho matched the feats of Sir Matt Busby as Manchester United duly booked a last-16 Champions League spot as Group A winners.
Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford sealed the success over CSKA Moscow to ensure a 40th successive game without defeat at their Old Trafford home – a club record last achieved between 1964 and 1966 by their legendary former boss’s famed side.
With a crucial Manchester derby to follow on Sunday, the triumph provided the perfect lift for Mourinho’s men.
The decisive goals, 67 seconds apart in the 64th and 66th minutes, completed an impressive comeback from the hosts after they had fallen behind in the 45th minute to a strange goal.
Vitinho’s strike went in after hitting Alan Dzagoev on the back with the midfielder offside, but played on by United defender Daley Blind who had slid behind the goal and was still deemed active.
CSKA needed to win by seven clear goals to stop the hosts going through, but that was never going to happen.
What this game did, though, was perhaps herald the rebirth of injury-plagued left-back Luke Shaw.
Three years since his much-vaunted arrival from Southampton, this was only his 50th appearance. With 48 minutes of previous action this season, Shaw was handed a first start since April. Under scrutiny, under pressure, this was a chance to prove his worth – and a point to arguably his harshest critic, Mourinho.
The United boss witnessed commitment and quality at both ends of the pitch.
Dashing down the left, Shaw met an Antonio Valencia cross with a volley that forced CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev into the first part of a fine double save, spreading himself to block Lukaku’s follow up.
Shaw then made a great run in behind the defence but his low cross just eluded Rashford.
It formed part of a strong United start. After only three minutes, Lukaku showed good strength and skill to send Rashford clear, but his shot rolled against the inside of the post.
Rashford then tested Akinfeev with another low effort. The visitors were struggling but got a break just before half time with Dzagoev’s opener.
United restored parity when Paul Pogba floated over a perfect pass for Lukaku to finish with a stretching volley. A minute later Juan Mata lofted a pass for Rashford to finish with aplomb.
PLAYER RATINGS
Romero: Deputising for the rested De Gea, but didn’t have a shot to save until he picked the ball out of the net. Denied Dzagoev near the end. 6
Lindelof: Very little to do, but an assured display from the Swede which will help his confidence. 7
Smalling: The defensive commander and marshalled his side well. Dangerous on set-pieces too. 7
Blind: Comfortable in a three-man Inadvertently played a crucial part in CSKA’s opener when off the pitch and playing Dzagoev onside. 6
Valencia: Driving runs from the United skipper down the right and equally combative at the back. 7
Herrera: A peripheral figure when he had the opportunity to press his claims for a start against City on Sunday. 5
Pogba: The dismissal at Arsenal may have contributed to a largely subdued performance, but still produced a peach of a pass to set up Lukaku for his volleyed strike. 6
Shaw: It was like the Shaw of old, driving down the left to support his attack and determined in defence. 8
Mata: Neat and tidy, but a player of his calibre needs to be more involved as he was in the second half. 7
Lukaku: Solid and offered good support to Rashford, his second goal in 13 games will have done his confidence the world of good. 7
Rashford: A well-taken goal, but wasteful with other chances when he could have had a hat-trick. 7
Substitutes
McTominay (for Herrera 66′): Offered stability in the midfield and composed display as United took control. 6
Tuanzebe (for Valencia 71′): Gave his captain a rest as he gained more first-team experience. 6
Martial (for Lukaku 73′): Another brought on to provide Lukaku with a breather before the derby. 6
