UCL 09/10: Late show from United, Milan down Madrid and round-up

Antonio Valencia scored a late winner for Manchester United as they clinched a 1-0 win against CSKA Moscow.

On an artificial plastic pitch in the Russian capital, United had to work hard to maintain their 100 per cent record in the UEFA Champions League this season, which sees them top Group B with three wins from three.

The win also means they equal Ajax’s European record of 14 away games without defeat, and they can thank a composed finish from the Ecuadorian Valencia for that milestone.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men turned the screw in the second half after a first period that saw few chances, and they were kept at bay when Igor Akinfeev produced an excellent save to keep out a Nani header.

But Valencia latched on to a Dimitar Berbatov flick-on in the 86th minute to hit a half-volley across goal into Akinfeev’s net, to ensure United travel home with the three points.

Wolfsburg finished the other match in Group B with 10 men as Grafite was sent off in the German champions’ frustrating 0-0 draw at home with Besiktas.

Armin Veh’s side dominated the contest, but had to play the final 16 minutes a man down after Grafite was dismissed for slapping Ibrahim Kas in the face.

Porto secured a second win in Group D after a 2-1 home success over Apoel Nicosia in a largely one-sided encounter.

Apoel rarely threatened, yet somehow took the lead on 22 minutes when Constantinos Charalambides failed to connect with Helio Pinto’s cross and the ball bounced off Porto defender Alvaro Pereira and beyond the helpless keeper Helton.

Porto levelled on 33 minutes when a poor header gifted Falcao possession and he played in Hulk inside the area to slot confidently beyond the exposed Dionisios Chiotis.

The 2004 winners took the lead on 48 minutes when Mariano Elias was penalised for handball and Hulk calmly sent Chiotis the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The visitors were given a potential lifeline back into the game with 15 minutes to go when Porto’s Mariano Gonzalez was sent off after his swinging arm caught Marinos Satsias on the back of the head, but the hosts comfortably saw out the closing stages.

Milan ended Real Madrid’s 100 per cent record in Group C after a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Alexandre Pato scoring twice.

Real took the lead in comical circumstances on 19 minutes when Dida mis-handled Esteban Granero’s shot and Raul gleefully pounced on the loose ball to slide his effort into an empty net.

Against the run of play, Milan equalised on 62 minutes when Andrea Pirlo was given time and space to size up a shot from 30 yards and his attempt flew inside Iker Casillas’ near post.

Casillas promptly gifted Milan the lead four minutes later when he missed Massimo Ambrosini’s through ball on the edge of the area and Alexandre Pato side-footed into an unguarded goal.

The Spanish giants hit back in the 76th minute as Raul played a corner to Royston Drenthe on the edge of the box and the Dutchman’s sweetly-struck drive nestled into the corner of the net.

An own goal by Real defender Sergio Ramos was harshly ruled out five minutes from time, but Milan were not to be denied as Pato showed great composure to steer Clarence Seedorf’s perfect pass beyond Casillas with two minutes to go.

Marseille gained their first points of the group after Gabriel Heinze’s second-half goal clinched a 1-0 triumph away to FC Zurich.

Former Manchester United defender Heinze hit a crisp far-post volley from Lucho Gonzalez’s deep cross on 69 minutes to earn a priceless win.

The French side did finish the game with 10 men after Laurent Bonnart picked up a second yellow card in injury-time, but it was too late to affect the outcome.

Bordeaux sit atop Group A after a 2-1 win at home to Bayern Munich in a game which saw Laurent Blanc’s side miss two penalties and the visitors have two men sent off.

Bayern were in front after just six minutes when Michael Ciani’s attempted clearance from Holger Badstuber’s corner flew into his own net.

But Ciani made amends at the opposite end on 29 minutes when he produced a superb flick to guide Wendel’s corner beyond Hans-Jorg Butt and barely a minute later Bayern were down to 10 men when Thomas Muller was shown a second yellow card following a poor challenge on Mathieu Chalme.

There was an element of fortune about Bordeaux’s winning goal four minutes before half-time as Marc Planus stuck up a foot to block Hamit Altintop’s clearance and the ball flew past Butt.

Bordeaux should have gone further in front on 66 minutes when Butt felled Marouane Chamakh after losing possession, but the Bayern keeper thrust out a hand to keep out an impudent penalty from Yoann Gourcuff, who then saw the rebound drift across goal.

The French champions then missed second penalty two minutes from time as Jussie’s spot-kick was pawed away by Butt after Daniel van Buyten had been sent off for pulling back Chamakh.

Juventus leapfrogged Bayern into second spot in the group after making heavy weather of beating Maccabi Haifa 1-0 at home to claim a first win.

Juventus made the breakthrough two minutes after the interval when Giorgio Chiellini headed home Diego’s free-kick.

Maccabi’s task was made even harder on 69 minutes when Tiago Dutra was shown the red card for a bad challenge on Chiellini.