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Matchday 2
Final
Manchester United 2-1 VfL Wolfsburg
Half: 0-0
Goals
  0-1E. Dzeko56'
59'R. Giggs1-1  
78'M. Carrick2-1  
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Final Boxscore
Commentary  |  Team Stats  |  Player Stats
Manchester United v VfL Wolfsburg
Time Commentary
93' FULL TIME
Six points from six for United who already look like they're going to have few problems qualifying from Group B. Full credit to Wolfsburg who made a decent game of this, showing plenty of attacking endeavour and frightening the life out of the hosts when they took the lead, but ultimately United had too much for them. Or rather, Ryan Giggs had too much for them. Full time at Old Trafford, Man United 2 Wolfsburg 1.
90' ADDED TIME
Two minutes left for United to see out.
88' WASTED
It's wasted though - Misimovic dinks a pass over the wall rather than shooting and United deal with it.
87' LUCKY BOY
Vidic is a lucky boy. The Serbian is late with a poor tackle on Dzeko, but escapes a second booking. Free kick for Wolfsburg though, 30-yards out...
86' BAD TOUCH
Anderson should put the game beyond the Germans but a nightmare first touch from Berbatov's nod down sees the ball race into Benaglio's arms.
85' JOSUE CHANCE
Wolfsburg's chief architect Misimovic sets up yet another chance - this one is for Brazilian midfielder Josue who rather toe-pokes his shot wide from 18-yards.
83' FORM
Martins has form on this ground - he scored the last time he played here in a 1-1 draw for Newcastle in August 2008.
82' SUBS
A substitution apiece - Fletcher replaces Valencia for United, Martins replaces Grafite for Wolfsburg.
80' TOP-DRAWER
Schafer's deliveries from that left flank have been top-drawer all evening and the latest is no different, but Kuszczak is out to punch clear ahead of the lurking Dzeko.
78' MAN UNITED 2-1 WOLFSBURG
United take a lead they fully deserve with a pinpoint goal from MICHAEL CARRICK. Giggs, of course, is involved as he tees up the Englishman to send a curling shot into the corner from just outside the box.
77' ROONEY OPENING
Not for the first time tonight Berbatov and Giggs forge an opening, with Rooney just inches away from connecting with the Welshman's cross.
74' NICE CLAIM
Corner for Die Wolfe, but Schafer's whipped delivery is nicely claimed by Kuszczak, who has had a solid evening thus far.
73' WOLFSBURG SUB
The visitors make a change, but Obafemi Martins remain sat on his backside. Makoto Hasebe departs, with Algerian midfielder Karim Ziani the man to enter the fray.
69' OFFSIDE
Giggs has the ball in the net once again but is flagged offside from a Michael Carrick pass.
69' ROONEY SHOT
Rooney shows great strength and power to hold off a challenge before hammering a deflected shot straight at Benaglio.
66' GRANDSTAND FINISH
This is set up nicely for a bit of a grandstand finish, particularly if Wolfsburg fancy chasing a winner as well. Obafemi Martins might be utilised before long.
62' BOOKING
Incidentally Costa was booked just before those United chances for taking out Rooney.
62' CHANCES
Chances, chances for United who have stepped things up a couple of gears. Vidic swipes at a low cross from which he should do far better, before Giggs' driven cross is deflected for a corner. From that, Rooney curls a beauty inches past the top corner.
59' MAN UNITED 1-1 WOLFSBURG
United are behind for all of three minutes - seems that 'attack' chant did the trick after all. It's lucky for the hosts though, as a RYAN GIGGS free kick from 20-yards takes a wicked deflection before bouncing past the helpless Benaglio.
57' ATTACK
Attack, attack, attack is the cry from the home faithful. Well duh.
56' MAN UNITED 0-1 WOLFSBURG
Well that's a shocker - out of the blue Wolfsburg have the lead and it's EDIN DZEKO who gives it to them. The referee plays a good advantage with a green-shirted player on the ground, Hasebe picks up the pieces a dinks a dainty cross to Dzeko who leaps high and gives Kuszczak no chance with a firm header.
54' BENT WIDE
Goal-shy Anderson (one goal in three years) fancies his chances with a 30-yarder but bends it wide.
52' MIS-HIT
Misimovic and Gentner - Wolsburg's two most creative performers this evening - combine once more but the latter's slightly mis-hit chip is into Kuszczak's arms.
50' OFFSIDE
United have started the half purposefully. Rooney nearly breaks beyond the Wolfsburg back four but is correctly flagged offside.
47' COSTA CHANCE
Former Porto defender Ricardo Costa is first to reach a Wolfsburg corner with a snap volley which flashes wide of the post.
46' SECOND HALF
We're back playing again at Old Trafford.
45' HALF TIME
An absorbing, if not exactly thrilling, half of football at Old Trafford ends scoreless. Wolfsburg's bold start to the game petered out, coincidentally with the introduction of Berbatov for United - the former Spurs man has pulled all the strings without reward at the other end.
45' CARRICK HEADER
Valencia, like most of his team mates, has improved considerably as the half has worn on. A right-wing cross from the Ecuadorian is met by the diving head of Michael Carrick but it's straight at the keeper.
43' TOO TAME
Wonderful football from United as Valencia and Berbatov combine with real beauty to set up Rooney but the eventual shot is far too tame to trouble Benaglio.
42' TEAMING DOWN
Hardly a headline grabber this, but it's teaming down with rain in Manchester. Wolfsburg look happy with proceedings as they stand - gaffer Armin Veh will be delighted to get to half time at 0-0.
39' BOOKING
Grafite does Vidic on the turn but the Serbian is having none of it, hacking down the Brazilian and picking up the game's first booking for his troubles.
37' CHANCES
Riether plays a hospital ball straight to Berbatov but the Bulgarian can't find Giggs as United pile forward. A minute later Giggs does find his team mate with a cracking cross but Berbatov slides a volley over the bar.
33' FREE HEADER
But there's another warning sign for United - a beauty of a Misimovic corner is met by Gentner who powers a free header over the bar.
30' GOOD CLAIM
United look the more likely scorers now. A Berbatov pass drops to Carrick in the box but as he shapes to shoot from close range Benaglio rushes from his goal to make a good claim.
27' COMFORTABLY OVER
Dzeko, who's scored four goals in seven league games this season, bends a 25-yarder comfortably over the bar.
25' VALENCIA CHANCE
Berbatov back-heels a delightful pass through to the onrushing Valencia who should make it 1-0 from ten yards out of the right, but pulls his shot wide. He won't get a much better chance to score his first United goal.
25' RAMPAGING RUN
Finally, United are looking something like their usual selves. A rampaging Rooney run into the box gets the crowd going as well.
23' VITAL HEADER
Giggs directs a quality 25-yard free kick towards O'Shea but Grafite proves he can defend a bit as well as attack with a vital clearing header.
22' PUSHED BACK
Much better from United who have pushed Wolfsburg back onto their 18-yard line. There's a handball appeal from a Valencia cross, but it look more like ball to hand.
20' OWEN OFF
Terrible news for Michael Owen in front of the watching Fabio Capello - the striker has picked up a knock and leaves the field to be replaced by Dimitar Berbatov.
19' ROONEY FREE KICK
Anderson picks up the tempo and wins a free-kick 30-yards from goal. Rooney steps up and curls one towards the bottom corner, but at the last minute it drifts away from Benaglio's right-hand post.
17' IMPOSING VISITORS
It's not often that sides, particularly relatively experienced ones in Champions League terms, come and do this to Manchester United. Wolfsburg have had all the possession in key areas and the home side seem put out of place.
14' OFF THE PACE
United just look a yard off the pace all over the pitch in these opening stages. All the penetration and speed is coming from the German champions, as well as all the crowd noise.
11' EVRA ERROR
Evra's awful, stray pass across his back line is straight to Dzeko whose 30-yard effort drags wide of Kuszczak's right-hand post. Let off for the Frenchman - don't think too many errors like that will go unpunished tonight.
8' GIGGS CROSS
Giggs chips a delightful cross into the area looking for Owen, but he's shackled well by Madlung and the header bobbles straight through to keeper Benaglio.
6' RUFFLED
Left back Schafer bombs forward down the flank and is unlucky to see his powerful low cross evade everyone in the box. United look a bit ruffled by all this.
4' GOOD CHANCE
Blimey - they've certainly got something about them, the men in green. Mismimovic should arguably find the back of the net with a low shot from eight yards, but the rather timid effort is straight at Kuszczak.
3' CONFIDENT
Confident start from the German visitors. Grafite already looks lively, and finds room on the left of the area before John O'Shea intercepts and clear.
1' KICK OFF
Man United kick us off at Old Trafford.
0' GROUP B RESULT
Tonight's other Group B game has already been played - CSKA Moscow beat Besiktas 2-1 to get themselves off the mark with three points.
0' WOLFSBURG TEAM NEWS
Deadly duo Dzeko and Grafite start up front, so unsurprisingly there's no place for Obafemi Martins who is on the bench. First-choice keeper Diego Benaglio is back between the sticks after being suspended for the 4-2 win over Hannover at the weekend, replacing veteran Andre Lenz. Full line up: Benaglio; Riether; Schafer, Costa, Madlung; Gentner; Josue, Misimovic, Hasebe; Dzeko, Grafite. Subs: Lenz, Pekarik, Barzagli, Dejagah, Ziani, Santana, Martins.
0' MAN UNITED TEAM NEWS
Michael Owen and Tomas Kuszczak start for Man United as Sir Alex makes five changes from Saturday's 2-0 win at Stoke. It's Owen's third start in United colours, while Michael Carrick, Anderson and Ryan Giggs also come into the XI. The five to drop out – Ben Foster, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Nani and Dimitar Berbatov – are all on the bench. Full line up: Kuszczak; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Owen, Rooney. Subs: Foster, Brown, Fabio, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov.
0' KICK OFF 1945 BST
Kick off is at 1945 BST and we'll be bringing you the all-important team news roughly half an hour before then as we await this intriguing battle between the English and German champions.
0' THE REF
Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai will referee his first United game since 2007's 4-2 win at Dynamo Kiev. He showed just the one yellow card that night, and judging by his Champions League record Kassai is not one to book or send anyone off without good reason. Here's hoping his reputation remains intact after tonight.
0' IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
United are on the back of a seven-game winning streak in all competitions and with red-hot striker Wayne Rooney on the top of his game Sir Alex's boys are a match for anyone in Europe. The United gaffer's tactics tonight will be interesting – with no fresh injury worries will he revert to playing Rooney as a lone striker, as so often is the case in the Champions League? Dimitar Berbatov has goes his fingers crossed for 4-4-2.
0' ATTACKING PEDIGREE
And the Germans certainly have some attacking pedigree. Their unorthodox strike pairing of Grafite (30-year-old Brazilian journeyman) and Edin Dzeko (23-year-old Bosnian plucked from FK Teplice) became the most potent in Bundesliga history in 2008-09, firing Wolfsburg to the title with a remarkable 54 goals between them. Former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins has now been added to the ranks, while Zvjezdan Misimovic and captain Josue are also key players behind Wolfsburg's success.
0' PREVIEW
German champions Wolfsburg visit Old Trafford tonight for what is set to be a captivating Champions League clash. With Die Wölfe (that's ‘The Wolves' for those not perfectly fluent in German) promising to attack Fergie's boys the game should at least be slightly more interesting than most Champions League group games which involve an English side playing at home…
Commentary  |  
Team Stats  |  Player Stats
Teams
Manchester UnitedStarter
Tomasz Kuszczak - 29Y
Patrice Evra - 3Y
Rio Ferdinand - 5Y
Michael Owen - 7Y
Luis Anderson - 8Y
Wayne Rooney - 10Y
Ryan Giggs - 11Y
Nemanja Vidic - 15Y
Michael Carrick - 16Y
John O'Shea - 22Y
Luis Antonio Valencia - 25Y
Dimitar Berbatov - 9N
Darren Fletcher - 24N
VfL WolfsburgStarter
Benaglio - 1Y
Marcel Schäfer - 4Y
Ricardo Costa - 5Y
Josue - 7Y
Edin Dzeko - 9Y
Misimovic - 10Y
Makoto Hasebe - 13Y
Alexander Madlung - 17Y
Sascha Riether - 20Y
Grafite - 23Y
Gentner - 25Y
Obafemi Martins - 11N
Karim Ziani - 15N
Substitution
20' - Berbatov
 - Owen
82' - Fletcher
 - Valencia
Ziani - 73'
Hasebe - 
Martins - 83'
Grafite - 
Yellow Cards
 Vidic (39')
Ricardo Costa (61')  
Manchester UnitedTeam StatsVfL Wolfsburg
2 Goals 1
1 Assists 1
16 Shots 9
8 Shots on Goal 3
2 Saves 6
0 Penalties Scored 0
0 Penalty Kicks 0
39 Crosses 28
4 Corner Kicks 5
8 Offsides 0
9 Fouls Committed 13
1 Cautions/Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
Commentary  |  
Team Stats  |  Player Stats
Manchester United
  GA SHT SHT-OG Svs SPct PKF PKS YC RC
T. Kuszczak - 29 1 9 3 2 66.7 0 0 0 0
  SUB G Ast SHTS SOG SOG% CK CR FC FS Off YC RC
P. Evra - 3 0 0 0 0 - 0 1 0 3 0 0 0
R. Ferdinand - 5 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
M. Owen - 7 -21 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L. Anderson - 8 0 0 2 1 50.0 0 5 2 4 0 0 0
D. Berbatov - 9 +21 0 0 2 0 0.0 0 3 1 0 3 0 0
W. Rooney - 10 0 0 6 3 50.0 0 5 0 1 3 0 0
R. Giggs - 11 1 1 2 1 50.0 4 12 2 0 1 0 0
N. Vidic - 15 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 3 1 0 1 0
M. Carrick - 16 1 0 3 3 100.0 0 5 1 2 0 0 0
J. O'Shea - 22 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
D. Fletcher - 24 +83 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
L. Valencia - 25 -83 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 6 0 1 0 0 0

VfL Wolfsburg
  GA SHT SHT-OG Svs SPct PKF PKS YC RC
Benaglio - 1 2 16 8 6 75.0 0 0 0 0
  SUB G Ast SHTS SOG SOG% CK CR FC FS Off YC RC
M. Schäfer - 4 0 0 0 0 - 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
Ricardo Costa - 5 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
Josue - 7 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 1 3 1 0 0 0
E. Dzeko - 9 1 0 4 1 25.0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0
Misimovic - 10 0 0 0 0 - 5 4 2 0 0 0 0
O. Martins - 11 +84 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
M. Hasebe - 13 -74 0 1 0 0 - 0 2 2 2 0 0 0
K. Ziani - 15 +74 0 0 0 0 - 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
A. Madlung - 17 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
S. Riether - 20 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
Grafite - 23 -84 0 0 0 0 - 0 6 3 1 0 0 0
Gentner - 25 0 0 3 2 66.7 0 3 0 1 0 0 0

Goalkeepers
GAGoals Allowed
SHTShots Faced
SHT-OGShots on Goal Faced
SvsSaves
SPctSave Pct.(Percentage)
PKFPenalty Kicks Faced
PKSPenalty Kicks Saved
YCCautions/Yellow Cards
RCRed Cards
Players
GGoals
SHTSShots
SOGShots on Goal
SOG%Shots on Goal %
CKCorner Kicks
CRCrosses
FCFouls Committed
FSFouls Suffered
YCCautions/Yellow Cards
RCRed Cards
AstAssists
OffOffsides
SUBSubstitution
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