Champions League Group B, Old Trafford -Manchester United 2 (Juan Mata 34' penalty, Smalling 53') Wolfsburg 1 (Caligirui 4')
Manchester United recovered from the shock of losing an early opening goal to complete a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg in Group B at Old Trafford.
United got off to the worst possible start as Antonio Valencia played Daniel Caligiuri onside after being picked out by a superb pass from Max Kruse, and the Italian made no mistake, firing powerfully past David de Gea.
Wayne Rooney blazed over from close range as United went in search of an equaliser, but it soon followed, with Juan Mata, not Rooney, scoring a penalty after Caligiuri had handled.
United had lost their opening game at PSV Eindhoven, but netted what proved to be the winning goal moments after half-time.
With Ashley Young’s cross only partially cleared, Mata audaciously flicked the ball over the Wolfsburg defence and Smalling slid the ball past Diego Benaglio in the visiting goal.
United's win means all four teams in Group B have three points after CSKA completed a 3-2 win over PSV.
KEY MOMENTS
4’ - GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Wolfsburg. What a start! Great move picks out Daniel Caligiuri, and he makes no mistake. A shock on the cards?
13’ - CHANCE! Great ball to the back post from Darmianpicks out Juan Mata, he cuts inside, fires at goal, but Dante gets his head in the way to divert the ball over the bar.
26’ - WHAT A SITTER! Great play from Martial as he gets to the byline, fires across goal to Rooney, but he loops the ball over the bar. Was only seven yards out. Will not get an easier chance to close in on Ruud van Nistelrooy's Champions League tally. Really was a sitter.
33’- PENALTY TO UNITED! Caligiuri handles in the box.
34’ - GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Wolfsburg. Mata dispatches the penalty after his shot was handled by Wolfsburg goalscorer Caligiuri in the box. Is captain Wayne Rooney suffering from confidence issues?
53’ - GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg. Chris Smalling is the unlikely scorer! All about the audacity from Mata to flick the ball into the path of the defender, who converts on the slide.
76’ - CHANCE! Bendtner almost steals the headlines, but he cannot connect with a low cross from Draxler, Dante diverts the ball at goal, but Rooney gets in the way in front of De Gea, and clears.
87’ - CLOSE! After a long delay, Rodriguez curls the free-kick over the wall, but it flies just past the post. De Gea was across, and had it covered.
KEY STATS
Manchester United end a run of three Champions League matches without a win.
This is United’s 108th win in the Champions League, equal as many as Bayern München. Only Real (126) and Barcelona (120) have more wins.
Chris Smalling scores his second Champions League goal at Old Tarfford. He scored his first also against a German club,Bayer Leverkusen (5-0 away win) in November 2013.
Juan Mata scores the 20th penalty for United in the CL. Only Real (25), Barcelona (28), Bayern (25) have more.
Daniel Caligiuri (4') scored the fastest goal for an opposing team at Old Trafford in the CL since Alan on 23 October 2012 for Braga (3-2).
Caligiuri is the 150th player to score against United in the CL (including own goals). Real 170, Barcelona 169, Bayern 154,Arsenal 149.
Wolfsburg's German defender Christian Trasch (L) and Wolfsburg's German midfielder Julian Draxler (R) vie against Manchester United's Dutch forward Memphis Depay during the UEFA Champions League Group B football match between Manchester United and VfL Wol - AFP
TALKING POINT
Can Manchester United kick on from here? The draw originally looked favourable for United, but Wolfsburg and PSV have proved to be tough opposition in what is now appearing to be a very competitive Group B. Back-to-back matches with CSKA Moscow will not be easy, especially with the journey involved, but Louis van Gaal will know that six points will put United on the verge of the knockout rounds, on his side’s return to the competition.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Chris Smalling. Close between him and Mata, but Smalling proved to be the match-winner, as well as being a rock at the back. Bas Dorst is no slouch, and Smalling marshalled him superbly, making some crucial late interceptions. His improvement continues.
PLAYER RATINGS
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 7; Valencia 5, Smalling 8, Blind 6, Darmian 7; Schneiderlin 6, Schweinsteiger 7; Mata 8, Rooney 5, Memphis 6; Martial 7. Subs: Jones 6, Pereira 6, Young 7
WOLFSBURG: Benaglio 6; Trasch 6, Naldo 6, Dante 7, Rodriguez 7; Guilavogui 7, Arnold 7; Caligiuri 7, Kruse 8, Draxler 6; Dost 7. Subs: Bendtner 6, Schurrle 6.
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