Manchester United vs Dynamo Kiev. UEFA Champions League Group F.
Old TraffordAttendance75,017.
Wednesday 7 November 2007 22:26, UK
Man Utd are through to the knockout stage of the Champions League following success over Dynamo Kiev.
The Ukraine outfit were always up against it at Old Trafford, but Oleg Luzhny's side made a bright start and frustrated The Red Devils for half an hour.
However, once Gerard Pique nodded home United's opener from Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick, which struck Michael Carrick and Carlos Tevez en route to the Spanish defender, there was only going to be one winner.
The game was virtually over just six minutes later when Tevez played a one-two with Rooney before lashing a right-footed shot past Dynamo keeper Alexander Shovkovsky.
Despite Sir Alex Ferguson ringing the changes in the second half, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo both found the back of the net late on as The Red Devils wrapped up the victory.
With Roma holding Sporting to a 2-2 draw in the evening's other Group F clash, United have progressed to the last 16 of the competition.
Ronaldo belted one long-range free-kick into the visitors' wall and Nemanja Vidic headed wide but the most notable aspect of United's play during that time was a succession of badly-taken corners by Nani, who failed to beat the first near-post defender on three separate occasions.
Not that it counted for much once the Red Devils had assumed a position of superiority.
It was Carlos Correa's foul on Nani that offered Ronaldo the chance to float a free-kick into the Kiev box.
Carrick's initial header cannoned into Tevez but the ball looped up kindly for Pique, who could easily have remained in Spain after a successful season on loan at Real Zaragoza last term to convert his first United goal.
Kiev were pretty frustrated. And TV replays showed exactly why as Vidic, clearly offside, was stood right in front of keeper Alexander Shovkovsky as Pique's header flashed in.
Pape Diakhate, who had earlier got away with elbowing Rooney, voiced his protests rather too vigorously for Dutch referee Jan Wegereef and was booked, as was Correa after Tevez had dispatched United's second.
The Kiev man's complaint related to the Tevez tackle which robbed him 15 yards inside the home half.
Once the Argentina star had been waved on though the rest was clinical and devastating. After a 35-yard driving run, Tevez flicked a pass to Rooney, who instantly returned the compliment.
Ferguson was so sure of his position at half-time he introduced Tomasz Kuszczak for stand-in skipper Edwin van der Sar, a move which saw Vidic wearing the captain's armband in preference to Rooney.
If the England striker was a bit put-out by the decision, he did not show it, turning in another all-action display, blotting his copybook only once when he picked up a needless booking for a reckless touchline tackle on Badr El Kaddouri.
It was Rooney who provided the sliderule pass which should have seen Tevez grab his second. This time though, the former Boca Juniors man delayed too long and allowed El Kaddouri to slide in and rob him.
However, when Nani arced over a cross from the right near the end, Rooney tapped home, meaning only a touch from Arsenal's William Gallas is denying the 21-year-old a place on the scoresheet in nine successive games for club and country.
Ronaldo nudged his way ahead in their scoring duel, finishing off a fine solo effort in some style to complete the rout.
Manchester United | Team Statistics | Dinamo Kiev | Â |
4 | Goals | 0 | Â |
2 | 1st Half Goals | 0 | Â |
10 | Shots on Target | 2 | Â |
6 | Shots off Target | 3 | Â |
7 | Blocked Shots | 3 | Â |
13 | Corners | 4 | Â |
11 | Fouls | 9 | Â |
1 | Offsides | 0 | Â |
1 | Yellow Cards | 2 | Â |
0 | Red Cards | 0 | Â |
86.9 | Passing Success | 80.5 | Â |
23 | Tackles | 31 | Â |
60.9 | Tackles Success | 77.4 | Â |
58.5 | Possession | 41.5 | Â |
50.9 | Territorial Advantage | 49.1 | Â |