Match Report: FC Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester United 02/10/2013

Moyes' boys earn hard-fought point in Ukraine as unbeaten United top Group A after their two opening Champions League matches.

A European fixture on a freezing Wednesday night in a Ukrainian stadium where no English team has ever won was probably one of the less inviting propositions for David Moyes and his Manchester United team, particularly considering their rough start in the Premier League where they haven't scored from open play since their victory away at Swansea in August. United hoped to maintain a good start to their campaign in this competition after a good performance and win in their opener against Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford.

Moyes opted to make several changes from the side that were beaten at home to West Brom and chose to field three central midfielders in Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Marouanne Fellaini. Their player of the month for September Wayne Rooney was ruled out at the last minute with a shin injury which meant Danny Welbeck and Robin Van Persie were paired in attack.

United started brightly with a 4-3-3 formation and created the first real chance of the match inside 8 minutes as Van Persie beat the offside trap and controlled a lovely ball over the top from Cleverley with his usual class and elegance. The Dutchman turned well and aimed his shot for the top left corner but his effort flew over the bar for a goal kick.

Shakhtar finally began to put some pressure on the United defence and seemed unlucky to have a penalty shout turned down in the 14th minute. Their corner in from the right was cleared by Fellaini but only as far as Teixeira and Cleverley, whose left outstretched leg missed the ball and made slight contact with the Brazilian's left ankle. Their claim was immediately dismissed by the Czech referee Pavel Kralovec and the hosts were left understandably frustrated when United went ahead 4 minutes later.

To add insult to injury it seemed that the goal came from a throw in that should have been Shakhtar's after Valencia seemed to get a touch on it. However, it was Shakhtar's defence who created the opening as Hubschman struggled to deal with Fellaini and allowed the Belgian to drag the ball across the six-yard line. Danny Welbeck loitered on the edge of the box and made a brilliant run inside the area which was rewarded as Rakitskiy slipped, allowing the English striker to slide in fearlessly and poke the ball home.

Srna should have done better after good work down the right by Shakhtar's most creative player Costa gifted him the ball in space to cross but instead the captain opted to shoot and United were thankful to see it go high and wide. It was a half of few chances as United tried to hold possession in the centre and they led as the game went into half time.

Shakhtar looked to improve on their poor set pieces in the second half and went close early on as the culprit for gifting Welbeck the chance for his goal in the first half, Rakitskiy, couldn't keep his free kick effort on target as it sidled past De Gea's left hand post. More Ukranian pressure came moments later as De Gea was tested for the first time inside 53 minutes when Shevchuk beat Rafael with ease and hit a dangerous ball into the box that bypassed Smalling and Vidic. United's young keeper stayed alert to the danger and showed bravery to dive on the ball and put a stop to the attack.

United's defence had to withstand plenty of pressure in the early period of the second half with little opportunity to get forward but United's captain Nemanja Vidic lead by example and did especially well to dispossess Adriano in a dangerous position in the box in the 55th minute. United began to pass the ball around just outside the Shakhtar area but were content to keep possession rather than try for another goal. 

On 65 minutes Vidic was involved again as he was booked for a foolish foul on Costa, who had proved a tricky customer all night. The Serb pulled him down by his shirt and was lucky the offence was not committed inside the penalty area as it was a certain foul. Luckily for Moyes the resulting free kick from 25 yards out was easily blocked and dealt with by the United wall.

A minute later and history was made as Fellaini was replaced by United's veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs who came on for his 145th Champions League appearance, surpassing Raul's record of 144. It is an astonishing feat for the Welshman who turns 40 next month.

Chances were few and far between for United who were placing more importance on trying to hold onto their slim lead. However, inside 71 minutes Van Persie and Rafael linked up wonderfully as the Dutchman's beautiful touch allowed United's Brazilian to power down the right, into the box and lay the ball off to Van Persie who was waiting in the centre to complete the move he started. He was unlucky as he turned and struck the ball clearly but it was well blocked by Rakitskiy who stopped the shot which looked like it was going to be on target.

Rakitskiy was then involved down the other end of the pitch in the United area as he turned creator for Skakhtar's equaliser. The Ukranian played a lovely one-two with Taison and delivered a cross into the United box that Vidic failed to deal with as he could only clear the ball as far as Taison, who fired it powerfully into the top of the net with his right foot. With the crowd feeling Shakhtar could get the winner, they continued to press. Teixeiron struck a cross that took a wicked deflection off Smalling but was expertly saved by an alert De Gea to keep the scores level.

United defended well under pressure at the death and even saw a Van Persie corner punched away by Shakhtar's keeper Pyatov before the whistle blew meaning both sides shared the points. 

It was a satisfying night for Moyes and United, who can take a point home from a hostile venue and against a team that has never lost at home to English opposition. Had Wayne Rooney been fit there might have been more opportunities for the away side going forward but they will have been delighted to see their defence concede only one. Next up in this competition United face back-to-back games against Real Sociedad who lie bottom of Group A. United will be hoping they can get more points on the board in those two fixtures and remain top of the group for Shakhtar's visit to Old Trafford in their final group game in December.