Manchester Utd 3 - 1 Wolfsburg: Owen proves that attack is the best form of defence

Published on Tuesday 8 December 2009 22:37

SIR Alex Ferguson hailed hat-trick hero Michael Owen following Manchester United's memorable 3-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany last night.

Needing a point to secure top spot in Champions League Group B, United flattened their hosts even though they had 14 senior players missing and only one recognised defender in the party. The result means Ferguson's men will avoid many of Europe's biggest names in the first knockout round as well as playing the second leg at home. And for that they have Owen to thank after his first three-timer since he joined in the summer – and his first for anyone since 2005.

Owen nodded in a Nani cross on the stroke of half-time to give United the lead. Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko levelled on 56 minutes with a bullet header from close range but Owen was on hand after 83 minutes to slot home at the far post and the striker sealed the win with a crafty finish in added time. The 29-year-old has now taken his United tally to seven and Ferguson said: "It was a fantastic performance. Michael's finishing and positional play were superb."

Ferguson could have added Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher to his eulogy. Pressed into emergency service as defenders in a three-man rearguard that also included Patrice Evra, the pair stood firm in the face of severe Wolfsburg pressure.

Ferguson does expect strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney to be fit for Saturday's encounter with Aston Villa along with Ryan Giggs, the only member of the 14 to be rested.

Crucially, Nemanja Vidic has recovered from the flu virus that kept him at home. "Our defence will be Fletcher, Carrick, Vidic and Evra," confirmed Ferguson, his statement suggesting Wes Brown will not have recovered from a hamstring injury as he had hoped.

The qualification picture has become murky following confirmation earlier yesterday that two CSKA Moscow players had tested positive for banned substances following the meeting with United at Old Trafford last month.

It leaves the Russians facing expulsion at a Uefa disciplinary hearing on 17 December, with Wolfsburg hoping to maintain interest in the competition until the day before the last 16 draw.

Wolfsburg: Benaglio, Schafer, Barzagli, Ricardo Costa, Riether, Josue, Gentner, Hasebe (Ziani 72), Misimovic, Dzeko, Grafite (Dejagah 72). Subs not used: Lenz, Simunek, Johnson, Madlung, Pekarik.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Evra, Gibson, Scholes, Nani (Valencia 74), Welbeck (Obertan 74), Anderson, Owen. Subs not used: Foster, Eikrem, James, Gill, Stewart.