A PATCHED up Manchester United finished top of their Champions League group thanks to Michael Owen's hat-trick against Wolfsburg.
The Reds took the lead when Owen headed home Nani's cross just before half time only for rumoured United target Edin Dzeko to equalise with a powerful header.
Substitute Gabriel Obertan's superb turn and cross created an easy tap in for Owen to put the Reds back in front, before the striker's smart chip sealed the win late on.
The victory was all the more impressive given United were missing 12 players through injury, Ryan Giggs was suspended and Ritchie De Laet ineligible.
Ferguson opted for Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra as a back three with Ji Sung Park, expected to start at right back, pushed into a five man midfield.
But with eight defenders missing through injury, desperate times call for desperate measures.
The rest of his starting 11 had a more familiar look about it with Owen, ironically one of the few fit strikers available to the manager, partnering Daniel Welbeck in attack.
With so many missing, Ferguson opted for Evra as his captain; the French international given the honour from the start for the first time in his Old Trafford career.
More than 1200 United fans helped ensure a capacity 30,000 capacity crowd at the impressive Wolfsburg Arena.
And while the stadium is only seven years old, the pitch showed plenty of wear and tear from the incessant rain that had bucketed down throughout the day.
Needing to win to guarantee their own place in next February's knockout stages, Wolfsburg looked for an early breakthrough.
Former bin liner salesman Grafite swung his right foot at a 25-yard effort that Kuszczak clutched into his mid rift.
Pressure
There was more consternation when Carrick slid in on Makoto Hasebe for what looked a presentable penalty appeal.
However, Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers suggested the midfielder had touched the ball though TV replays showed otherwise.
But having missed out on some stonewall spot kicks against CSKA Moscow and Besitkas, maybe justice was served for the Reds.
Irish international Gibson produced United's first worthwhile attempt but his fourth goal in three games wasn't forthcoming with a miscued effort from outside the area.
And the visitors were regularly under pressure. Defender Andrea Barzagli and midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic, both unmarked, headed over from close range when both should have scored.
United did get the ball in the net after 31 minutes. But Welbeck's cool finish counted for nothing, straying marginally offside as he collected Anderson's crisp pass.
Welbeck and Nani, with an audacious 40 yard attempt into an unguarded goal, ensured it wasn't all one way traffic.
And with two minutes to the break, Owen headed in Welbeck's left wing cross.
Wolfsburg responded quickly after the break through Dzeko's powerful header. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson denied any interest in the striker at the pre-match press conference, but the Bosnian completed a personal double against the Reds having also scored at Old Trafford.
Ferguson threw on wing duo Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan after 74 minutes and the young Frenchman made the biggest impact.
His superb turn and cross set up Owen for a simple finish after 83 minutes, before Owen skipped away and chipped over Wolfsburg goalkeeper Benaglio with great skill.
So, United comfortably take their place in next Friday's draw for the knockout stages with the last 16 ties taking place from February 16-24 and March 9-17.
What is your verdict on the result? Have your say.
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Serge, Europe (08/12/2009 at 21:41)
But in terms of credit, the team played AWESOME given that we had 0 center backs against a side known for its top forwards away from home. What a great performance given the injuries. Even with a fully fit squad, 3-1 away at Wolfsburg is a tall order!
OBERTAN, I knew it all along, you are our next superstar, no question:D Laurent Blanc is an idiot!
danny, WILMSLOW (08/12/2009 at 21:44)
Have to say Kussak is defo our best keeper and Obertan is the best buy since Cantona.His class just oozes.
Nani made a good cross but he is not as good as Tosic or Obertan or Valencia.
Owen does not put in the wotk of Tevez however a hatrick against the German champs and the winner against the bitters he looks pretty fresh to me.
Paddy Evra's Captains Armband, Manchester M1!! (08/12/2009 at 21:46)
danny, WILMSLOW (08/12/2009 at 21:52)
Doc Savage (08/12/2009 at 21:52)
Gilly, Belgium (08/12/2009 at 21:54)
Roy (08/12/2009 at 21:57)
BrewDevil, Clemson,USA (08/12/2009 at 22:11)
Can't understand why some have gone OTT in talking him down. It's not like many have proclaimed him an undisputable superstar and sure thing. Rather mainly expressing the excitement and electricity you feel when he's on the ball. I feel very confident when he gets the ball, like something wonderful is about to happen (that Space Odysseyish, or what?). Contrast that with the feeling you get when Nani gets on the ball, irrespective of the occsasioinal goal and the even rarer (thgough a good one tonight, i'll admit) good cross. Now if we could just pluck Gourcoff from Blanc on some kind of reasonable terms. Doubt he'll be so easy to deal with on that account, though.
Great win for the lads and hopefully a confidence builder - especially Owen (had no idea he was even on the pitch until he popped up for the header). Passing a bit spotty and put us under unnecessary pressure at times. Not close to Anderson's best, but never knowing where Gibson is going to be may play into that. Evra immense. Guess we couldn't have expected much better in combatting the aerial attack, but Carrick and Fletch were quite strong in dealing with the ground attack in the box. Some superlative angled passing from Scholesy, but not enough quality on the wings to take advantage in the first half. Nani: becoming rather obvious, isn't it?
Clustim, Swigging Super Bock, Algarve, Portugal. (08/12/2009 at 22:38)
BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (08/12/2009 at 22:39)
paul salmon (08/12/2009 at 22:50)
Nani should watch the first goal over and over again, where he would see how easy it can be to make the right decision. However, how long before Obertan nails down the left wing position? Magical play for Owen's second goal. This boy truly excites in the way Giggs and Ronaldo did, bringing us fans to the edge of our seats with eager anticipation that something special is about to happen.
TK again looked good, and Anderson appplied himself manfully. great experience for young Wellbeck, not least watching the masterful finishing of Owen. Which brings me to our free transfer signing of the summer. That's what that man is about ... finding space and scoring goals.
A simple question to all the persistent doubters and anti SAF mob; what other team could have achieved that result with such a depleted line up?
Well done SAF, and thank you yet again for being the greatest manager to ever draw breath.
Paul, Whalley Range
Dave-K, ex-Cheadle (08/12/2009 at 22:56)
Happy Valley Barry, San Francisco, California (08/12/2009 at 23:13)
I am proud to be United, my children will remember this day and will tell
their children of it. Scholes is a walking PHD of football.
Up the Reds!
ENGINEER, Heywood (08/12/2009 at 23:21)
Owen was annonymous at times but know exactly where to be when the ball comes in. Nani did himself no favours here tonigh, but yet again playing on the wrong side. As for Welbeck just no strength or control and has anyone told him the offside law as he hasn't a clue about where to be.
Also with such a wet and muddy pitch why where they not playing with the longest stud in instead of these fancy blades as I lost count of the times the players kept falling over.
I admit I thought wwe would lose, and but for tehm not having anyone like Owen to hit the target we could have been 3-0 down, and also credit united for keeping them playing in front of them.
United 18, Huddersfield Town 3, City 2 (League Titles), Wilmslow (08/12/2009 at 23:43)
Man United THIRD STRING against the GERMAN CHAMPIONS 3-1 Tick Tock ROFL
Hughesie MU-MUF-MUFC OK, Manchester (08/12/2009 at 23:55)
Blake Williamson (09/12/2009 at 03:01)
RedAustralia, Perth WA (09/12/2009 at 04:21)
skh,pj, Malaysia (09/12/2009 at 05:47)
I'm just like Stewie Griffin, Fictional Quahog, Rhode Island (09/12/2009 at 07:33)
Well done lads, superb!!
mark jones (09/12/2009 at 08:08)
Red-Brit-in-It (09/12/2009 at 08:13)
The Trawler, Stockport (09/12/2009 at 08:37)
edinburgh red, edinburgh (09/12/2009 at 08:45)
Fletcher,evra and scholes all played excellent, a few players like gibson,anderson, nani and park in the 2nd half let the game drift past them but all put in the effort at least.
Baldrick (09/12/2009 at 08:53)
Michael Owen is a red, is a red.
Michael Owen is a red he hates Germans!!
Absolutely unbelievable result and performance considering the team we had out. Nani has shown that he will not make the grade, the only time that he did what a winger should (cross the ball) we scored. Obertan did more in 20 minutes than Nani did in the previous 70.Lets get Obertan into perspective, he is very young and inexperienced and makes mistakes, however he looks natural and confident when on the ball and oozes potential. He has a very genuine chance of being our next superstar if he keeps this up.