OWEN STILL KNOWS WHAT TO DO
Well we'd already faced Wolfsburg at Old Trafford in the Champions League Group B and we saw them off even though they gave us a headache. Since then we've secured out spot in the knockout stages but we came to the Volkswagen Arena for our final game with the top spot in the group still up for grabs. Slight problem, our defence had been beset by a plague of injuries - not ideal circumstances for a visit to the Bundesliga champions. Park of all people started at right back, with Carrick and Fletcher in central defence, Evra left back. Nani back for the first time since shooting his mouth off at right mid, Anderson and Scholes centre mid, Owen and Wellbeck up front. A draw would do it.
Well though United had the opening attack, Wolfsburg soon showed that they had more than enough class to rip through what passed for United's defence that night and could have got a penalty but it wasn't given and the Reds dodged further bullets after that. The home sides kept testing the United defence but not quite to breaking point only for United to be the first side to hit the net. Slight problem, it was ruled out for offside. The Bundesliga side continued to give us a rough ride for the rest of the half but then Nani sent over a 45th minute cross which found the head of Owen who showed why Fergie signed him. So far, pretty impressive given the circumstances.
However Wolfsburg picked up where they left off in the second half and in the 56th minute Marcel Shafer finally blew United's defence wide open with a cross to Edin Dzeko who headed in the equaliser. The Reds were then able to batten down the hatches though, knowing that it would still be mision accomplished were things to stay as they were. United did eventually manage to buy themselves some attacking space. Wolsburg replied by bringing on some fresh attackers of their own, they needed the win more than United. The Red wall still held firm though and in the 83rd minute, Obertan, who's come on as a sub, crossed to Owen for the former England assasin's second. And then in injury time came what can only be described as a basketball-style fast break with Fletcher finding Obertan who found Owen who's first United hat-trick was garunteed before the ball hit the net!
Elsewhere, Besiktas faced CSKA Moscow at the Inonu Stadium. The RPL side proved to be far surperiou to the hosts though it wasn't untill late in the first half that they made one of their chances count, Milos Krasis opening the scoring. The second half was a bit more competitive and eventually the home side grabbed themselves an equaliser through Bobo. However it was still CSKA who had the last laugh with Yvevgeny Aldonin hitting the winner. That leaves United top of Group B, three points ahead of CSKA Moscow who slip into second place at the last minute, leaving Wolfsburg unlucky to be dumped into the Europa League.
In Group E, Liverpool faced Fiorentina at Anfield. With the Scousers having nothing to play for, the Serie A side had the better of a fairly low-key first half but still Yossi Bennayoun opened the scoring for the home side. The pace picked up in the second half though and Pool really didn't look motivated to keep up. Martin Jorgensen equalised for Fiorentina and with the visitors looking for top spot in the group Alberto Gilardino hit the winner. There ends Liverpool's Champions League campaign. Combined with their poor form in the Premiership I'm surprised Rafa Benitez is still in a job. Still, the Scousers now have to see what they can do in the Europa League.
In Group D Chelsea faced Apoel Nicosia at Stamford Bridge. Marcin Zewlakow opened the scoring for the Cypriot league side but the Blues first eqalised through Michael Essien then took the lead through Didier Drogba. Chelsea went on to dominate the second half but somehow just weren't able to bury the minnows like they should have done. Maybe they weren't taking the match seriously enough. Anyway Nenad Mirosavljevic made sure that his side made it home with a point. Not that it counted for much. Chelsea had already secured their place on top of the group and the Premiership leaders will now be looking forward to the knockout stages.
In Group H Arsenal faced Olympiakos at the Karaiskaki Stadium. Arsene Wenger fielded what was very much a reserve side for this contest and even then they seemed to be too much for the Greek league leaders and their fans boosed them off the feld at half time. The home side responded with Leonardo hitting the net early on in the second half but still, despite being unable to find an equaliserthe second-string Gunners proved competitive till the end. I can't see Arsene Wenger complaining about that result. His team had already secured top spot in the group so hopefully he'll be able to bring his full firepower to the knockout stages.
In Group G, Rangers faced Seville at Estadio Ramon Sanchez. Frederic Kanoute opened the scoring for the La Liga side with an early penalty and only a miracle prevented the home side from burying the Gers before half time. The SPL side did have a few opportunities in the second half but ultimately it was their defence that came away with more credit. Seville just couldn't find themselves a second goal. Still that wasn't what they had in mind. Walter Smith has already admitted that he has been lucky to hold on to his job after a dissapointing Gers season so far. Once again the SPL has no representation in the knockout stages. Scottish football has a lot of work to do.
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