Man. United 2-1 Sporting
Cristiano Ronaldo proved the nemesis of his old club Sporting Clube de Portugal once again as his injury-time free-kick completed a 2-1 comeback victory for Manchester United FC at Old Trafford. In the process, the Portugal winger – scorer of the only goal when the teams met in Lisbon in September – secured first place in Group F for United, this fifth straight victory leaving them five points clear of AS Roma.
Sporting eliminated
Yet it was not a straightforward victory for United, who trailed at half-time to defender Abel's spectacular effort from the right wing. United levelled in the 61st minute through Carlos Tévez and for Sporting this defeat, together with Roma’s win in Kiev, confirms their elimination from the competition. However, they at least have the consolation of knowing third place, and a berth in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup, is theirs.
First blood
Speaking before the match, Sir Alex Ferguson had reflected how “some teams come to Old Trafford inspired but some teams come and freeze”; Sporting belonged firmly in the former category. Paulo Bento’s team had the first effort of note after 12 minutes when João Moutinho dragged a shot wide of the far post and although Louis Saha then fired wide after Ronaldo’s delightful flick had sent him clear, the visitors drew first blood in the 21st minute. It was a goal out of nothing, Sporting working the ball, via Miguel Veloso, from the left to the right flank where full-back Abel advanced into a crossing position. Rather than deliver a centre, Abel, after a quick look across, rifled the ball with deadly precision inside the near post to leave goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak red-faced. Not a bad way to score your first UEFA Champions League goal.
United changes
Sporting's travelling supporters thought they had a second goal when from a half-cleared free-kick, the impressive Anderson Polga fired the ball back towards goal and Liedson stabbed it past Kuszczak, only to be denied by the assistant's flag. With United players surrendering possession with uncharacteristic ease, Sporting remained in the ascendancy. Polga hooked a shot at Kuszczak following another corner while at the other end, Sporting’s players worked overtime to deny United space. To counter this, Sir Alex made changes for the second half, sending on Ryan Giggs and Tévez in place of Darren Fletcher and Nani and switching from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2.
Pressure tells
The improvement was immediate and chances soon came. Ronaldo just failed to connect cleanly with Giggs's free-kick, then Saha dwelt too long on the ball when teed up by Ronaldo. Although Nemanja Vidić headed narrowly wide, the pressure eventually told. Following Patrice Evra's trademark surge into the box, Saha laid the ball back to Ronaldo and his low shot was played into the net via visiting defender Marián Had and Tévez.
Late reward
United sought a second but Rui Patrício, showing no signs of stage fright on his European debut, saved with his feet from both Ronaldo and substitute Owen Hargreaves. Veloso threatened with a long-range effort on to the top of the net for Sporting but the traffic was now one-way and United got their reward in the end via who else but that man Ronaldo.
Dynamo Kyiv 1-4 Roma
AS Roma confirmed their place in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with a comfortable win against FC Dynamo Kyiv that left the Ukraine side without a point in the section and ended their hopes of claiming the UEFA Cup place.
Vučinić double
Mirko Vučinić made sure Roma talisman Francesco Totti was not missed by scoring a goal in each half, and the Giallorossi took command from the outset. First-half strikes from Christian Panucci, Vučinić and Ludovic Giuly made the points safe by the interval and though Ismaël Bangoura pulled one back after the break, the in-form Vučinić restored Roma’s three-goal margin late in the game.
Panucci opener
Tiberiu Ghioane had the first shot of the night, bringing a sprawling save from Doni in only the first minute. Roma, though, were soon in control and went ahead on four minutes. Panucci crossed low into the box from near the right touchline and the ball evaded everyone including the on-rushing Vučinić before finding its way beyond Olexandr Rybka and into the net.
Roma chances
The 20-year-old Rybka was deputising for the injured Olexandr Shovkovskiy, one of a number of changes forced upon coach Oleh Luzhny as his side looked for their first points of the campaign. The hosts, playing the last match at NSC Olympiyskiy Stadium before it closes for renovation work ahead of UEFA EURO 2012™, responded with another long-range effort, this time from Miloš Ninković. Roma, though, were making the better chances and should have doubled their lead on nine minutes when Max Tonetto picked out the unmarked Panucci who headed just wide.
Giuly goal
Dynamo created their best chance on 12 minutes when Bangoura cut in from the left and forced a fine save from Doni, before Giuly headed wide when well placed at the other end. A second Roma goal was not long in coming, Giuly striking with 32 minutes played. Marco Cassetti’s tackle on Ruslan Rotan near the half-way resulted in the ball breaking through the Dynamo defence. It was latched on to by Giuly who rounded Rybka to score.
Vučinić scores
Dynamo, without injured first-choice defenders Rodrigo and Pape Diakhate, were stretched at the back and four minutes later Roma scored again. Giuly played the ball into the path of Vučinić who stroked it low past the advancing Rybka and into the far corner for his second goal of the campaign.
Bangoura goal
Dynamo came back stronger after the interval and pulled a goal back on 63 minutes. Substitute Valentin Belkevich and Maksim Shatskikh combined well before Shatskikh teed up Bangoura on the edge of the area and the 22-year-old striker sent a low shot beyond Doni.
Vučinić again
Roma had taken their foot off the pedal but were still threatening on the break and both David Pizarro and Vučinić came close before the latter completed the scoring 12 minutes from time. Tonetto pulled the ball back from the touchline to the Montenegrin striker who calmly picked his spot from the edge of the area to leave Rybka rooted to the spot.
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