UCL 09/10: United escape, Milan and Madrid lock at San Siro and round-up

Manchester United and Chelsea both came from behind on Tuesday evening as they booked their places in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

United were almost shocked by Russians CSKA and looked to be heading for their first Champions League home defeat for four-and-a-half years as they trailed 3-1 with less than ten minutes left.

CSKA had taken the lead after 25-minutes when Tomas Necid chested the ball down to Alan Dazagoev, who continued his run into the box before firing into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Just moments later Unietd levelled as Antonio Valencia’s cross was flicked on by Nani and Michael Owen turned and fired home for his first goal in the Champions League for five-years.

But that equality lasted just a matter a matter of minutes. Again Necid was the creator as he helped up the ball on the edge of the box before releasing Milos Krasic and he took the ball past Edwin van der Sar, before turning back on himself and firing the ball into the empty net.

Just after the break, if Old Trafford was not already stunned – then they well and truly silenced as Vasili Berezutsky got on the end of Dzagoev’s free-kick to head home from within the six-yard box.

But with just seven minutes left, United gave themselves hope when Paul Scholes headed home Gary Neville’s cross brilliantly into the top corner.

The grandstand finish was now on, and the equaliser came in stoppage time – but it was so cruel for CSKA.

Antonio Valencia had the shot, but it was way off target before it took a deflection off Georgi Schennikov and it left Igor Akinfeev flat footed an helpless to prevent it going in.

The drama was still not over as there was still time for CSKA to be reduced to ten-men as Deividas Semberas was booked for second-yellow card.

Also in United’s group Wolfsburg tightened their grip on second place as they sealed a 3-0 win over Besiktas in Istanbul.

The opener came from their skipper Zvjezdan Misimovic after just 14 minutes. He ran unchallenged through the midfield before lashing the ball into the top-corner from 25-yards.

The German champions then added two goals in the final ten-minutes to seal the win as Ashkan Dejagah fired home from the edge of the box before Edin Dzeko slotted the ball past Hakan Arikan after being sent clear.

Atletico hopes of progression in the Champions League are over, as Porto joined Chelsea in the next round after they claimed a 1-0 win at Apoel Nicosia.

The winner arrived just five minutes form time when Radamel Falcao fired home from the edge of the box.

Bordeaux joined the two English sides in the next phase as they sealed their passage from Group A with a 2-0 win at Bayern Munich.

A goal in each half sealed the win for the French champions, although it was a night to forget for Bayern keeper Hans-Jorg Butt.

The opener came when Wendel’s free-kick found an unmarked Yoann Gourcuff and he headed down and in, althoug Butt will be disappointed he could only push the ball into the net.

If Butt could be excused for the first goal, there was no hiding his blame for the second as a long ball over the top saw the German keeper come rushing out – but he missed out, which allowed Marouane Chamakh to slot into an empty net.

Juventus are firmly on course for second-spot ahead of Bayern after they claimed a 1-0 win in Israel against Maccabi Haifa.

The only goal arrived just before half-time when a sweeping move saw Diego play a great ball out to the flank for Martin Caceres, he pulled the ball back to the penalty spot where Mauro Camoranesi was to slam the ball home.

Group C is the most evenly contested affair when just one point separates the top-three.

AC Milan remain on top after they played out a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the San Siro.

Madrid went ahead on the half-hour and it was another gaffe from Milan keeper Dida as he spilled Kaka’s drive into Karim Benzema’s path and he fired into the corner.

But AC secured a draw as they levelled just six minutes later with Ronaldinho firing home from the penalty spot after Pepe handled in the box.

Marseille find themselves just a point behind Milan and Madrid, as they destroyed FC Zurich 6-1 at the Stade Velodrome.

Marseille went ahead of just four-minutes when Silvan Aegerter headed past his own keeper after Fabrice Abriel curled a free-kick into the box.

Abriel then got on the score-sheet and it was almost carbon copy of the opening goal, expect this time nobody got a touch and the ball flew straight into the corner of the net.

Zurich got back into the game on the half-hour when Alexandre Alphonse hammered the ball home from the edge of the box – but their hope was fleeting as Mamadou Niang soon restored Marseille’s two-goal advantage just after the break as he flicked the ball into the net after a great ball from Bakary Kone.

Marseille then moved into overdrive with three goals in the final ten-minuets as Hilton, Benoit Cheyrou and Brandao all scored.