skip to content

  • Giggs (59), Carrick (78)
  • Dzeko (55)
  • Date:2009-09-30
  • Kick-off:19:45
  • Venue:Old Trafford
  • Attendance:74037
  • Referee:Kassai, V

Live Commentary

90mins

Full Time: MAN UTD 2-1 WOLFSBURG

90mins

United are already in control of the group having won their opening two fixtures, although neither of the performances has been particularly great.

88mins

The free-kick is too intricate and comes to nothing.

88mins

Vidic hacks down Dzeko. Quite how the Serb hasn't been sent off is a mystery.

87mins

Fletcher is caught offside as a promising United atack comes to nothing.

86mins

Josue's shot is just wide with Kuszcak beaten as Wolfsburg come again.

84mins

Marcel Schafer's intended shot goes out for a throw-in but Wolfsburg haven't given this game up just yet.

82mins

Martins replaces Grafite for the German side.

82mins

United bring on Darren Fletcher for Valencia.

80mins

United have struggled at times this evening but they once again seem to have done just enough to win the match.

78mins

MAN UTD 2-1 WOLFSBURG. A beautifully crafted goal as Rooney, Berbatov and Giggs all play their part before CARRICK curls a lovely shot home from the edge of the area.

78mins

The match is in danger of petering out as United have lost their way for the last few minutes again.

77mins

Vidic has had an absolute shocker as another intended pass goes out of play for a throw-in.

75mins

Wolfsburg are still trying to get forward all the time and don't seem keen to settle for a draw.

73mins

Wolfsburg make their first change as Hasebe makes way for Karim Ziani.

72mins

Valencia whips in another cross but no United player can latch on to it.

71mins

Giggs rifles the ball into the net but the linesman's flag is raised and the 'goal' is ruled out for offside.

70mins

Valencia is enjoying a much more profitable second half as Rooney's deflected shot is gathered by Benaglio.

69mins

Giggs' latest free-kick attempt is woeful, far too high.

67mins

The flurry of action has abated as the game gets bogged down in midfield.

65mins

Dzeko heads this one over the bar but it has to be said United aren't defending Wolfsburg's set-pieces well at all.

64mins

Wolfsburg still look dangerous when they attack though as they win another corner.

63mins

Rooney curls a delicious shot on to the roof of the net, it's all United now.

62mins

United are moving through the gears as Wolfsburg suddenly start to look nervous in defence.

61mins

Rooney is caught by Miguel Ricardo Costa who is booked for his indiscretion.

59mins

MAN UTD 1-1 WOLFSBURG. The free-kick is taken by GIGGS. The ball take a massive deflection off the wall, wrongfoots Benaglio and ends up nestling in the back of the net.

59mins

Anderson is hacked down on the edge of the area by Anunciado Josue.

57mins

You have to say Wolfsburg deserve their lead.

55mins

MAN UTD 0-1 WOLFSBURG. Hasebe drifts a cross over to DZEKO at the far post and he rises above Evra to head the ball into the net.

54mins

Anderson is played into space. He fires in a rasping drive that Benaglio does well to keep out.

54mins

Rooney and Giggs appear to have had enough with Anderson, berating their team-mate at every opportunity.

53mins

Gentner tries to lift the ball over Kuszczak but the keeper is alive to the danger and leaps to claim the shot.

52mins

The crowd needs lifting again. Wolfsburg have started the second half brightly.

50mins

Vidic is still making some very clumsy challenges. He could be sent off if he keeps this up.

48mins

A Wolfsburg corner catches United out again and, although Miguel Ricardo Costa gets a powerful connection to the ball, he is unable to guide it goalwards.

47mins

Having beaten CSKA Moscow earlier in the month, Wolfsburg will know that a draw tonight will be a brilliant result for them.

46mins

Wolfsburg get the second half underway, neither side has opted to make a change during the interval.

45mins

Half Time: MAN UTD 0-0 WOLFSBURG.

44mins

United appeared to be caught out by Wolfsburg's strong start but have been on top in the latter stages of the opening 45 minutes.

43mins

Everything is going through Berbatov now. Maybe Owen's injury was a blessing.

41mins

Vidic has looked very vulnerable tonight while Valencia is also having a poor match.

39mins

Vidic hauls Grafite back after the Wolfsburg man had turned past him embarrassingly easily. Yellow card for the Serb.

39mins

Ferdinand and Kuszczak almost get in a muddle at the back, but the keeper eventually claims the ball.

38mins

Giggs lofts the ball across the penalty area for Berbatov who can't keep his shot down and it balloons over the bar.

36mins

It's been an even first half, Wolfsburg just about deserve to be level.

35mins

Misimovic's corner is met by Gentner but his powerful header flies over the crossbar.

33mins

It took United 25 minutes to get going but they're finally starting to look dangerous now.

32mins

Berbatov's guile has really lifted United, and their fans who are now much more vociferous.

31mins

Berbatov, again, plays in Michael Carrick who is just onside. The ex-Spurs man tries lift the ball over Diego Benaglio and into the net but the Wolfsburg keeper is alive to the danger and blocks the effort.

29mins

United are hitting their stride now as Evra gallops down the left and lifts in a cross that no-one can get on the end of.

27mins

That was much better by United though, the first real opening they've created tonight.

26mins

Berbatov's lovely touch sets up Valencia who drags his shot wide when he should really have got the effort on target.

25mins

There half a chance for Rooney but the former Everton man is unable to control the ball and the opportunity is lost.

24mins

Giggs curls the ball into the danger-area but no-one can get a touch to it.

23mins

United win another free-kick as Antonio Valencia is upended.

22mins

Not an auspicious evening for the 29-year-old striker, particularly as Fabio Capello is in the stands.

20mins

Owen limps off with what appears to be a recurrence of his groin strain and is replaced by Dimitar Berbatov.

20mins

Rooney's ambitious effort curls narrowly wide.

19mins

Anderson wins a free-kick 30 yards out and very central.

18mins

There are a few groans from the crowd as Anderson's misplaced pass goes out for a goal kick.

17mins

The German side are first to every 50-50 ball. Surely United have got to improve soon?

15mins

Another mistake, this time by Rio Ferdinand, allows Christian Gentner to have a shot, but he mis-hits it terribly and the chance is lost.

14mins

At last some possession for United, but they certainly haven't settled yet.

12mins

The home fans are very subdued as their side continues to play second fiddle to Wolfsburg.

11mins

Patrice Evra gifts possession to Dzeko who lashes his ambitious effort well wide.

11mins

Wolfsburg look good, they're playing the ball about very confidently in the early stages.

9mins

Owen can't quite get his head to Ryan Giggs' teasing cross as United finally launch their first meaningful attack.

8mins

United are being forced to play on the counter-attack such is Wolfsburg's early dominance.

7mins

Grafite has started well although Vidic stops him this time.

5mins

Poor play by Nemanja Vidic allows Zvjezdan Misimovic a sniff of goal but his effort is dealt with by Tomasz Kuszczak. An early alarm for United though.

4mins

Wolfsburg have started tidily. They have an attacking reputation and seem intent on getting forward at every opportunity.

2mins

Wolfsburg are playing in a mainly green strip, making them look a little like Plymouth Argyle.

1mins

United get the match underway at a damp Old Trafford.

0mins

That could prove to be a very useful result as the Russian side have already beaten Besiktas 2-1 this evening.

0mins

Wolfsburg are currently sixth in the Bundesliga table, five points behind early leaders Hamburg, and beat CSKA Moscow 3-1 in their opening Group B clash a fortnight ago.

0mins

Wolfsburg start with Grafite and Ezin Dzeko in a two-pronged attack so former Newcastle United star Obafemi Martins has to settle for a place on the bench.

0mins

Manchester United start with Michael Owen in attack alongside Wayne Rooney while Tomasz Kuszczak takes over from Ben Foster in goal.

0mins

The champions of England take on the Bundesliga champions in one of the games of the group stages.


advertisement

advertisment

Match Report

Manchester United were forced to come from behind before eventually beating a very lively Wolfsburg side 2-1 in their latest Champions League clash at Old Trafford.

After a goalless first half, Ezin Dzeko headed the German champions into the lead, only for Ryan Giggs to equalise with a deflected free-kick and Michael Carrick to grab the winner with a superbly-crafted goal.

United started with Michael Owen in attack alongside Wayne Rooney while Tomasz Kuszczak took over from Ben Foster in goal.

Wolfsburg opted to begin with Grafite and Dzeko in a two-pronged attack so former Newcastle United star Obafemi Martins had to settle for a place on the bench.

Wolfsburg, currently sixth in the Bundesliga table, five points behind early leaders Hamburg, started tidily and dominated the opening 20 minutes.

Poor play by Nemanja Vidic allowed Zvjezdan Misimovic a sniff of goal but his effort was dealt with by Kuszczak.

Patrice Evra then gifted possession to Dzeko who lashed his ambitious effort well wide before another mistake, this time by Rio Ferdinand, allowed Christian Gentner to have a shot, but he mis-hit it terribly.

The game changed in the 20th minute though when Owen limped off with a recurrence of his groin strain and was replaced by Dimitar Berbatov and his guile immediately lifted United.

Six minutes after coming on, a lovely touch by the Bulgarian set up Antonio Valencia who dragged his shot wide when he should really have got the effort on target.

Just past the half-hour mark Berbatov, again, played in Carrick who tried to lift the ball over Diego Benaglio only for the Wolfsburg keeper to be alive to the danger as he blocked the effort.

Back game the visitors and, in the 35th minute, the outstanding Misimovic's corner was met by Gentner but his powerful header flew over the crossbar.

At the start of the second half a Wolfsburg corner again caught United out and, although Miguel Ricardo Costa got a powerful connection to the ball, he was unable to guide it goalwards.

The Bundesliga side took the lead in the 55th minute when the Japan international Makoto Hasebe crossed the ball over to Dzeko at the far post and he rose above Evra to head home.

However, just four minutes later United were level. Giggs' free-kick took a massive deflection off the wall, wrong-footing Benaglio as the ball ended up nestling in the back of the net.

With 12 minutes left United grabbed their winner when Rooney, Berbatov and Giggs all played their part in setting up Carrick who curled a lovely shot home from the edge of the area.

Manchester United

Wolfsburg

Corners

45

Fouls

1013

Goal attempts

1610

Shots off target

77

Offsides

80

facebook twitter rss