Champions League: Man. United Through Into Last 16 After Stirring Late Rally

Manchester United staged a stirring late rally at Old Trafford to claim a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after CSKA Moscow looked poised to end their 22-game unbeaten home record in the competition.

Sir Alex Ferguson's revamped United looked like they would have to wait to seal their place in the knockout phase when they trailed 3-1 with only six minutes remaining.

But with a grandstand finish that has become their trademark, Paul Scholes headed home six minutes from time and Antonio Valencia's deflected shot in injury time rescued the vital point.

CSKA looked well on course to inflict United's first Champions League defeat at Old Trafford since AC Milan won in February 2005 - but they reckoned without the powers of recovery and refusal to accept defeat buried deep within Ferguson's side.

The Russians took the lead after 25 minutes when Alan Dzagoev beat a static Edwin van der Sar from an angle, but Michael Owen pounced in the area to restore equality four minutes later.

CSKA were quickly back in front when Milos Krasic rounded Van der Sar to score, and when Vasili Berezutski headed home Dzagoev's free-kick two minutes after half-time, United looked likely to sample the rare taste of defeat on home territory.

But the introduction of Wayne Rooney, the day after the birth of his son Kai, lifted the mood inside Old Trafford and set the scene for United's late charge.

United boss Ferguson made public his admiration for Igor Akinfeev in his programme notes, and the CSKA keeper will have further impressed the Old Trafford hierarchy with a magnificent display that kept the Premier League champions at bay until the late double salvo from Scholes and Valencia broke their resistance.

To complete a miserable conclusion for CSKA, they had defender Deividas Semberas sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

United fielded a much-changed side, but Rooney was a surprise inclusion on the bench the day after the birth of his son.

Injury to Dimitar Berbatov gave Owen a chance to impress, and he was heavily involved in a first half that provided mixed fare for a subdued Old Trafford gallery.

Owen had his first chance after seven minutes when he was played in by Valencia, but he failed to make a firm connection and his effort rolled harmlessly wide.

Darren Fletcher was then inches away with Akinfeev beaten, before Owen saw a point-blank shot blocked by the CSKA keeper after the United striker had bundled his way through a packed penalty area.

Federico Macheda, also getting a rare opportunity as Ferguson gave his shadow squad some game time, almost made his mark with a long-range effort before CSKA shocked United by taking the lead after 25 minutes.

United defender Jonny Evans looked to have seen off the threat of Dzagoev when he drove him wide, but the 19 year-old Russian then unleashed an angled drive which flew high past a startled and motionless Van der Sar.

Owen made amends for his earlier misses when he drew United level four minutes later, beating Akinfeev on the turn inside the area after Valencia's cross rebounded into his path off Nani.

As Old Trafford celebrated and assumed normal service had been resumed, CSKA were back in front within two minutes as Krasic stayed onside to latch on to Tomas Necid's pass and rounded Van der Sar to score on the turn.

Akinfeev then demonstrated his class with two more fine saves from Macheda and Scholes as United attempted to atone for their defensive lapses.

Sadly for Ferguson that vulnerability was in evidence again as CSKA added a third two minutes after the break.

Macheda lost his bearings, and Berezutski, allowing the CSKA defender to arrive unmarked at the far post and head beyond Van der Sar.

This was the signal for Rooney to warm up, much to Old Trafford's delight, but before he entered the action United were denied a clear penalty when Fletcher was felled by Aleksei Berezutski.

Portuguese official Olegario Benquerenca inexplicably ignored the claim and opted instead to show the Scot a yellow card for diving.

Rooney's energy had an instant impact on the tempo of United's game, and Akinfeev excelled again to block a powerful 25-yard free-kick from Scholes.

And as United laid siege to the CSKA goal, Akinfeev showed exactly why he is so highly-regarded throughout Europe by producing a string of top-class saves in the closing stages, making a defiant double stop from Owen and Rooney.

He then recovered superbly to defy Rooney once more after Macheda's header had bounced out off a post - but CSKA were wilting under the pressure and United pounced.

Scholes headed home Gary Neville's free-kick with six minutes left, and Valencia capped a trademark grandstand finish when his shot from the edge of the area was deflected off Georgy Shchennikov past Akinfeev.

Wes Brown congratulates Valencia for his part in the Reds' astonishing late fightback