Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said a "stupid" Anthony Martial handball gifted CSKA Moscow a Champions League point, but accepted such mistakes happen.
Martial scored a fine diving header to grab a 1-1 draw for United at the Khimki Arena, but the Frenchman was to blame for handing the Russians the lead.
Martial raised his right arm going into a challenge with Mario Fernandes in the 15th minute and the ball struck it, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the penalty spot.David de Gea saved Roman Eremenko's effort, but Seydou Doumbia converted the rebound to put CSKA ahead.Martial redeemed himself with a second-half header but Van Gaal was disappointed with his star forward for the error that led to the hosts' goal.
"They had the present of an Anthony Martial penalty," Van Gaal said. "Martial is a human being, he reacts and it is a stupid reaction, but sometimes these things happen.
"He said it is the first time it happens to him, if it always happens with me it's a pity."
Although Van Gaal was unhappy with the French teenager for effectively handing the hosts the lead, he was pleased to escape from his trip east with a point.
United froze in the first half on a sub-zero night in Russia, but improved after the break following the introduction of Marouane Fellaini and could have snatched all three points in the second half.
The draw leaves the Red Devils in second place in Group B at the halfway point of the group stages, with home matches against PSV and CSKA, as well as a trip to Wolfsburg, to come.
"The tempo was too slow in my opinion, I said that at half-time, and improve our tempo and switching the game from side to side.
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