Two-goal Cristiano Ronaldo sealed Dynamo Kiev's fate and virtually secured Manchester United's place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League after a 4-2 victory in the Ukraine.
England team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney were also on target as United struck four times for the third game running.
Given the abject nature of Dynamo's defending, United will be expecting to clinch qualification for the last 16 when the sides meet again at Old Trafford in two weeks time.
"We showed some excellent attacking play -- I can't ask for better," said manager Sir Alex Ferguson. "We had to do some defending in the second half, but all in all I have to be pleased with that result. We have a great team spirit."
Defender Ferdinand opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a powerful header -- his first goal in Europe -- and Wayne Rooney, with his seventh goal in six games for club and country, added a second on 18.
Ferdinand is on something of a scoring streak having found the net against Aston Villa on Saturday and also for England in their win over Russia at Wembley last month.
Rooney's effort was the perfect present for his 22nd birthday on Wednesday and saw him tap home Wes Brown's low cross to maintain his impressive run of form. Ronaldo was the architect of that effort, breaking from inside his half.
"There were some really good goals tonight, and we didn't want to be complacent and give them lots of possession," said Rooney.
"Carlos (Tevez), I thought, was brilliant. His work-rate and his touches were great. We're gelling really well, and I hope that can continue."
Ronaldo should have been protecting the post Diogo Rincon's header crept into to hand Dynamo a 33rd-minute lifeline, but the Portugal winger made up for his error when he nodded home United's third four minutes before half-time.
Had Dynamo been awarded what appeared a certain penalty when substitute Artem Milevskiy tumbled under Nemanja Vidic's challenge, the hosts might have made a game of it.
Instead, Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai ruled in United's favor and then gave the Red Devils a spot-kick, after extensive consultation with his assistant, after Goran Gavrancic had stuck out an elbow to block Tevez's 68th minute cross.
Rooney, who failed miserably with his hat-trick attempt at Villa Park on Saturday, handed over responsibility to Ronaldo, who promptly sent Shovkovskiy the wrong way.
Ismael Bangoura wrapped up the scoring 10 minutes from time and while the departure of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar raised eyebrows not long afterwards, United coasted home.
United were without Paul Scholes who suffered a knee injury in training and Patrice Evra who hurt his calf in the warm-up.
With Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick already sidelined, Ferguson will anxiously await the results of a scan on Scholes especially as his side are due to tackle Barclays Premier League table-toppers Arsenal in the biggest game of the season so far at the Emirates Stadium on November 3.
Roma battled to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon to put themselves in pole position to snatch the second knock-out phase qualification place behind group leaders United.
Avoiding defeat in two weeks time in Portugal in the return might just be enough to ensure their place in the second round for the second year in a row.
Roma started the game with key midfielders Simone Perrotta and Rodrigo Taddei injured and they lost captain and playmaker Francesco Totti after barely half an hour to an injured ankle.
Defender Juan headed home a David Pizarro corner on 15 minutes to put Roma in front, but three minutes later Sporting's Brazilian striker Liedson levelled when he headed home a cross from Fernando Abel.
Roma took control from there but spurned the chance to move back in front just after the break as Alessandro Mancini missed a penalty.
They were not to be denied, though, and Montenegro substitute Mirko Vucinic beat two players down the left before cutting inside and scoring from a tight angle.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário