UNITED FIND WAY INTO KNOCKOUT STAGES

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

Well United had already seen off CSKA Moscow 1-0 at the Luziniki Stadium. Since then, the RPL team had booted gaffer Juande Ramos and taken a gamble on a 38 year old called Leonid Slutsky to replace him. All United needed to know for this Champions League Group B match at Old Trafford was then even if they only drew this game, it would be enough to make it through to the next round with two games to spare. Still, Fergie seemed to take his foot off the gas with his team selection. Still, it was van de Saar in goal, Valencia right mid, Scholes and Fletcher centre mid and Nani left mid. A win was still the target for this game though, with all due respect to CSKA, they're a team we should be able to beat at home.

Well the early stages of the match certainly looked like they were going the way of the Reds. CSKA had their uses but it was a United goal that seemed to be the inevitability at this point, even though it wasn't our strongest striking partnership. However when our efence stupidly played Alan Dzagoev onside in the 25th miniute, it was the visitors that were left celebrating. United soon replied though when Nani set up Owen in the 29th minute for the former England assasin's first Champions League goal for United. And yet CSKA immediately retook the lead when Tomas Necid fed Milos Krasic in the 31st minute and our defence was caught sleeping again. Not what any United fan had in mind.

Fergie told the defence to get their act together at half time but they must not have heard him. In the 47th minute Dzagoev fired in a freekick which Vasili Berezutski headed in. Humiliation looked on the cards and the ref denying us a blatent penalty didn't help matters. On came the big guns from the bench but there seemed to be nothing anyone could do untill the 84th minute when Scholesey headed in a Neville free kick. That woke the fans up but as the match wore down all still seemed lost until Rooney, who'd come off the bench set up Valencia for a deflected injury time goal. We couldn't quite complete the turnaround though. For CSKA, this night will go down in legend. For United it was just very messy indeed.

Elsewhere, Besiktas faced Wolfsburg at the Inonu Stadium. Zvjezdan Misimovic opened the scoring for the visitors who certainly had the better game in the first half and it wasn't untill late on in the period that the home side even had a shot on goal. The Bundesliga side weren't done yet and went on to get further goals through Christian Gentner and Edin Dzenko with the Turkish league side leaving the field having been thoroughly outclassed. That allowed United to remain top of the group, six points clear of CSKA and having won the virtual tie 4-3, the Reds booked their spot in the knockout stages. Top spot is still up for grabs though with Wolfsburg three points behind.

In Group D, Chelsea faced Athletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. The Blues suffered from a creative lack of opportunities in the first half but their La Liga opponents went able to make them pay for it so the first half end goalless. Then Athletico broke free with Sergio Aguero grabbing two goals to seemingly put Chelsea to the sword. The Blues replied though with Didier Drogba grabbing a brace of his own to ensure honours were even. That leaves Chelsea top of the group, eight points clear of Athletico in third and so have garunteed their spot in the knockout stages. Top spot is still up for grabs with Porto just one point behind the Blues.

In Group E, Liverpool faced Lyon at the Stade de Gerland. The first half was relatively lacklustre from both sides but despite carrying injuries, Rafa Benitez's crew showed that they still could be taken for granted, their defence proving particularly solid. It was goals that the Scousers needed though and it wasn't untill late on that they got one of those, Ryan Babbel the scorer. The light at the end of the tunnel ran them over though as Lisandro grabbed an equaliser before the end. That means that Liverpool remain third in the group and on course for getting dropped into the Europa league. They're five points behind Fiorentina and the knockout stages and four points ahead of Debrecen and going out of Europe altogether.

In Group H, Arsenal faced AZ Alkmaar at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners pretty much dominated the first half and Cesc Fabregas opened the scoring before Samir Nasri cruised through the Alkmaar defence just before half time. Fabregas easilly made it three early on in the second half and the Eredivisie side were really put to bed when Aboud Diaby got his second. AZ got a consolation goal from Jermain Lens but they really did get outclassed. That result leaves Arsenal top of the group, six points ahead of third place Standard Liege and leading the virtual playoff 3-2. They're also four points ahead of second place Olympiakos.

In Group G, Rangers faced Unirea Urziceni at the Stadionul Tineretului. The first half was certainly lively but it was Unirea that had the edge, even though the Gers defence proved to be solid enough to keep the home side at bay before half time. In fact it looked to be solid enough to secure a clean sheet and when Lee McCulloch hit the net, a win looked on the cards. Unirea had other ideas though and Marius Onofras grabbed a late equaliser. That leaves the Gers still bottom of the group and on course for going out of Europe altogether. However they're just one point behind Stuttgart and that parachute into the Europa League so there's still some hope.

Going down a level, the Europa League group stages continued. In Group I, Everton were beaten 2-0 by Benefica at Goodison Park(they still remain 2nd in the group though). In Group E Fulham were beaten 2-1 by Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, despite opening the scoring(that means they drop down to 3rd in the group). In Group C, Celtic drew 0-0 with Hamburg at the Nordbank Arena(that means they remain bottom of the group). Overall, well we have two Premiership sides through to the Champions League knockout stages(including United). The fortunes of British Europa League teams on the other hand, are not looking so hot. We'll see what happens.

Closer to home, the FA Cup 1st round draw has been made and it's time for Exeter and Brentford to enter the fray. Exeter face Southern Premier Division side Nuneaton at the Manor Ground. This should be a straightforward run for the Grecians though they've been mugged before. As for Brentford, they face Conference National side Gateshead at the International Stadium. I'm pretty sure that stadium is better known for athletics, either way barring a disaster, the worst thing for the Bees will be the long journey. No other teams of interest reached the FA Cup proper this time around but fingers crossed both City and the Bees can have a good run this time.

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