Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial put CSKA Moscow to the sword as Manchester United took control of Champions League Group A with a ruthless 4-1 win on Wednesday
Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial put CSKA Moscow to the sword as Manchester United took control of Champions League Group A with a ruthless 4-1 win on Wednesday. Lukaku scored twice at Moscow's VEB Arena, taking his United tally to 10 goals in nine games, with Martial setting him up twice and netting a penalty before Henrikh Mkhitaryan completed victory. It was United's first away win in the competition since November 2013 and with Basel thrashing Benfica in the other group game, it left Jose Mourinho's side three points clear at the top of the pool. "We started so strong.
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku (left) and manager Jose Mourinho celebrate their team's 4-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in a Champions League match on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images
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We surprised them with out attitude," said Mourinho. "They didn't look as good as they are, because of us. "Lukaku has a great record. We know he is a very good player who can score lots of goals. He is surrounded by quality players. "We are in a good position with four matches to play." After grinding out a 1-0 win at Southampton on Saturday, United were back to their fluid best in the Russian capital, the pace and movement of new strike partners Lukaku and Martial causing CSKA headaches all night. Having beaten Benfica in their opening game, CSKA were brought back to earth with a bump, although substitute Konstantin Kuchaev gave their fans something to cheer with a 90th-minute consolation goal.
While the hosts had their moments, the encounter rather made a mockery of United manager Mourinho's eve-of-match claim that this was the strongest CSKA team he had ever encountered. Missing Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick through injury, Mourinho set United out in an unfamiliar 3-4-1-2 system, but the visitors took no time to find their mark. Paired in a new-look front two, Lukaku and Martial clicked instantly, combining to put United ahead in the fourth minute. Lukaku's fine pass down the inside-left channel released Martial on the left and he checked inside before crossing to the back post, where Lukaku leapt to direct a strong header past Igor Akinfeev.
10 No. of goals striker Romelu Lukaku has scored in his first nine games for Manchester United in all competitions
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