Romelu Lukaku dragged Manchester United from the verge of Champions League embarrassment - and to the brink of history.

The Belgian striker scored one goal and then set-up the winner for Marcus Rashford just 66 seconds later as Jose Mourinho's men booked their place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

United progressed as Group A winners – but they had to do it the hard way after Brazilian Vitinho fired Moscow ahead with a controversial strike on the stroke of half-time.

It means United have now equalled the club record of 40 unbeaten home games – set by the legendary Sir Matt Busby team led by Law, Best and Charlton 51 years ago.

Rashford and Lukaku both scored (
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Matthew Peters)
Luke Shaw returned to action (
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Gareth Copley)

United will set a new standard if they avoid defeat in Sunday's Manchester derby.

The Russians went ahead when Vitinho's close-range shot struck Alan Dzagoev on the back and beat Sergio Romero.

Lukaku was overdue a goal... (
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Gareth Copley)
... as was Rashford (
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Gareth Copley)

United felt Dzagoev should have been flagged for offside, but Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi ruled that Daley Blind was playing him onside after sliding off the pitch.

But United responded – and Lukaku poked home his 13 goal of the season from Paul Pogba's exquisite cross.

United protested the opener (
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Gareth Copley)

And just over a minute later, Rashford rammed home an emphatic left-foot finish from Lukaku's flick to bring an end to his nine-game goal drought.

5 talking points

Manchester United moved into the knock-out stages of the Champions League last night thanks to two second-half goals in the space of 66 seconds by Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.

Jose Mourinho’s men progressed into the last 16 as Group A winners and will now go into the weekend derby showdown with rivals City looking to close Pep Guardiola’s eight-point lead.

But a seemingly easy task became complicated just before half-time when Vitinho put CSKA Moscow ahead with a shot that beat Sergio Romero with the aid of a deflection off the back of Alan Dzagoev.

Dzagoev appeared to be offside – but Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi ruled Daley Blind was playing the No 10 onside despite sliding off the pitch.

UEFA then complicated the matter further by awarding the goal to Vitinho.

But Lukaku brought United level in the 64 minute when he poked home his 13 goal of the season from Paul Pogba’s fine cross.

Then Rashford broke his goal drought with a fine left-foot finish from Lukaku’s flick.

Here’s what Simon Mullock learned from Old Trafford.

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Gareth Copley)

Player ratings

Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford ensured Manchester United confirmed their passage into the last-16 of the Champions League as group winners thanks to a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow .

Jose Mourinho handed Luke Shaw his first start for a game in which United needed only to avoid a seven-goal defeat in order to progress.

It was the visitors who took the lead in first-half stoppage time, when Alan Dzagoev netting when Vitinho shot bounced off him and into the back.

The game was turned on its head just after the hour mark though, when Lukaku and Rashford netted within 66 seconds of each other to put United ahead.

David McDonnell was at Old Trafford and has dished out his player ratings here.

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Matthew Peters)

Those goals in pictures

Here are the moments that the two United strikers netted...

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Gareth Copley)

That escalated quickly

Two goal droughts over in two minutes.

Just what the doctor ordered for Jose Mourinho.

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Laurence Griffiths)

Was the goal offside? Nope.

There were cries of off-side when that goal went in - but Daley Blind lying injured off the pitch played him on.

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Laurence Griffiths)

United fall behind just before the break

So we have a goal at Old Trafford, just before the break.

And a certain former Oasis frontman was mad for that one...

Look who's back at OT

Everton might be Wayne Rooney’s boyhood club, but it is clear England’s record goalscorer still cherishes his days at Manchester United .

The 32-year-old, who left the Red Devils in the summer following 13 trophy-laden years, was spotted in the stands at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Perhaps Rooney misses those Champions League nights?

Here is is with former teammate Michael Carrick...

Read more here.

Half an hour gone

Still no goals yet.

In the other Group A game Basel have a 1-0 lead at Benfica, which means the Swiss side sit second in the group on 12 points, with United top with 13.

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Laurence Griffiths)

Shaw impressing

Luke Shaw looks the part this evening.

He’s getting down the flank, creating options, putting in some decent crosses and has even had a couple of pops at goal.

It’s almost like he’s quite good at football...

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Laurence Griffiths)

20 minutes in

No goals, but United are topping the group as things stand.

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John Peters)

Rashford's effort pictured

Marcus Rashford could do with a goal - and came oh-so close to getting one.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United has a shot on goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Manchester United and CSKA Moskva at Old Trafford on December 5, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) (
Image:
Matthew Peters)

15 minutes in...

Dxagoev has a pop from distance, but that won’t trouble Romero in the Manchester United goal.

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Gareth Copley)

Promising start from the hosts

A good first ten minutes for the hosts, with Rashford getting oh-so close to breaking his duck...

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Laurence Griffiths)
Paul Pogba stretches out ahead of kick-off (
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Getty Images Europe)

ICYMI in the FA Cup

Manchester United will face Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup.

The Red Devils were last crowned champions of the fabled competition in 2015-16, with the final turning out to be Louis van Gaal’s final game as manager at the club.

Last year, United were ousted at the quarter-final stage by eventual final losers Chelsea.

United entered the draw on Monday night along with all Premier League and Championship clubs.

The draw was broadcast live on TV ahead of the round two match between Slough and Rochdale.

See the full draw here.

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Manchester United)

Red Devils ready for business

Paul Pogba is a certainty to start given his Premier League suspension (
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Manchester United)

Team news in in - Shaw starts

We have our team news.

And Luke Shaw does indeed make the starting XI, so it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on, having played so little football this season.

Manchester United: Romero, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Herrera, Pogba, Mata, Rashford, Lukaku

Subs: Pereira, Darmian, Tuanzbe, Young, McTominay, Lingard, Martial

'Tis the season...

They’re getting into the festive spirit at Old Trafford tonight.

The tree is up and pipers are a-piping, as you can see in the photos below.

Which side will be the most giving tonight?

We’ll have team news in about 35 minutes, so stay tuned...

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PA)

Lindelof ready to kick on

Victor Lindelof believes he has overcome the difficult start to his Manchester United career and is ready to show his true worth.

Lindelof, a £30million summer signing from Benfica, had to wait until November 18 for his first Premier League start after struggling to adapt to the English game.

The 23-year-old looked out of his depth on his first few outings for United, culminating in his glaring errors when Jose Mourinho’s side lost 2-1 at Huddersfield in October.

But the Sweden international, who has started United’s last four Premier League games, insists he has finally got to grips with what is required of him at one of the world’s biggest clubs.

David McDonnell has more here.

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AFP)

Greetings...

Afternoon all and welcome to MirrorFootball’s live coverage of Manchester United’s Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow.

The Red Devils host the Russian side knowing that a point will secure the top place in the Group A, with Jose Mourinho set to make some changes.

“I am going to make a few, but not too many changes,” he said.

“We didn’t qualify yet, we didn’t finish first in the group yet, there are other clubs also involved in qualification and I need to keep a certain balance in the team.”

Paul Pogba is likely to start tonight’s match before he embarks on a three-game domestic ban following his red card against Arsenal at the weekend.

Nemanja Matic is out injured and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be rested, as will David de Gea, who turned in a stunning performance in the 3-1 win over the Gunners.

Sergio Romero will replace the Spaniard between the sticks, while Luke Shaw could return for United, as rumours continuing to link him with a move away from the club in January.

Should the Red Devils avoid defeat they will equal a club record of 40 successive home games unbeaten.

Opponents CSKA will qualify for the last-16 if they better Basel’s result at Benfica, so they have plenty to play for.

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Reuters)