Champions League round-up

United and Chelsea go through after draws; Bordeaux progress

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 4th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Champions League round-up

Owen: Levelled for United

Click below for individual match reports
Group A
Bayern Munich 0-2 Bordeaux
Maccabi Haifa 0-1 Juventus
Group B
Besiktas 0-3 Wolfsburg
Man Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow
Group C
AC Milan 1-1 Real Madrid
Marseille 6-1 FC Zurich
Group D
Apoel Nicosia 0-1 FC Porto
Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea

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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.

At one point Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti's sides both looked like they were heading for defeat in their respective clashes against CSKA Moscow and Atletico Madrid - but they both drew to go through.

United drew 3-3 with CSKA at Old Trafford, which was enough for them to seal their passage from Group B - whilst Chelsea played out a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid which was enough for them to progress from Group D.

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 Dzagoev, who continued his run into the box before firing into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Just moments later United 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 of minutes. Again Necid was the creator as he held 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 into the empty net.

Just after the break, if Old Trafford was not already stunned, then they were 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.

Valencia had the shot, but it was way off target before it took a deflection off Georgi Schennikov and left Igor Akinfeev flat-footed and 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.

In Group D, Chelsea drew 2-2 with Atletico in an action-packed encounter at the Vicente Calderon.

Atletico went ahead just after the hour when Sergio Aguero - who started the match on the bench - volleyed home wonderfully from just inside the box as John Terry headed clear from Antonio Lopez.

Chelsea then came back strongly and levelled when Florent Malouda broke down the left and floated across a great ball into the six-yard box for Didier Drogba, who rose highest to head home from close range.

Drogba then looked to have sealed the win for the home side, as he bustled his way through and fired home past Sergio Asenjo at the second attempt.

But Atletico were not finished and it was their own striking talisman Aguero who curled home a wonderful free-kick to level and seal a share of the spoils.

But Atletico's 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 Falcao fired home from the edge of the box.

French champions through

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, although 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 as 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 Milan 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 after 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 a carbon copy of the opening goal, except 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 minutes as Hilton, Benoit Cheyrou and Brandao all scored.