Heads up: Michael Owen scores his and United's
first goal
With three midfield players operating in the defence and
the chief executive’s son sitting next to him in his boots in
the dugout, this was a European night like no other for
Manchester
United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson.
When he looks back in the future, though, only one thing will
matter. His team qualified from the group stages in first position
again, thanks to a Michael Owen hat-trick.
At this level, results are all that matter and the victory that
United somehow managed to dig out in Saxony will send Ferguson and
his depleted squad into the draw for the knock-out stages next week
in extremely good heart.
As was to be expected, United spent much of this game on the
back foot. When Wolfsburg contemplate their exit from the
competition, the German team will ask themselves just how they
managed to miss so many chances.
But in the Champions League, class and experience more often
than not will tell. And as United’s teenage defender Owen Gill -
son of chief executive David - looked on as a substitute, one of
Europe’s most senior and respected centre forwards walked away with
his first hat-trick in four years.
Owen’s early weeks and months at United have been rather
underwhelming. His promising form of pre-season evaporated once the
real business started and as England secured qualification for the
World Cup without him, the 29-year-old has spent much of the autumn
and early winter in the shadows.
Pure delight: Owen celebrates in Wolfsburg
But last night proved to be something of a throwback,
though. Three goals, each clinically taken. No fuss.
Whether it proves to be a catalyst for something more
significant and long lasting, only time will tell. But it was too
much for Wolfsburg.
Missing bundles of senior players and with Michael Carrick and
Darren Fletcher playing in the centre of defence, this was always
going to be a long night for United, an evening when discipline,
courage and the ability to follow instructions would prove as
valuable as anything more glamorous.
As the match wore on, these qualities came to the fore. After an
uncertain start, Carrick and Fletcher grew in confidence while
keeper Tomasz Kuszczak contributed perhaps his most assured display
of his time at United.
On fire: Owen doubles United's lead
Nevertheless, it was largely down to the German team’s
poor finishing that United were not dead and buried within half an
hour.
Playing on a heavy, muddy pitch and backed by a rowdy full
house, Wolfsburg were purposeful and should have been ahead early
on.
They could have had a penalty when Carrick challenged Makoto
Hasebe while the Brazilian Grafite whipped a shot wide from the
edge of the penalty area and Andrea Barzagli and Zvjezdan Misimovic
headed over when unmarked within the first 20 minutes.
United struggled in the air throughout which made it all the
more ironic that they took the lead with a header just before
half-time.
Hat-trick hero: Owen completes the rout
Ferguson’s team had gradually come in to the game as the
half wore on and Danny Welbeck had a goal ruled out for offside.
And when Nani delivered a cross to the far post, Owen who had thus
far been quiet, nipped in ahead of Marcel Schafer to score simply
at the far post.
Behind at the interval, Wolfsburg must have wondered quite how.
But they responded well in the early stages of the second period
and, after Edin Dzeko stole in behind Carrick to thunder a cross
from Schafer in to the corner from 10 yards, it appeared as though
the home team were ready to make good their place in the next
stage.
Grafite brought a good save from Kuszczak with a powerful shot
in the 70th minute before Dzeko was foiled as he delivered a
somewhat weaker effort at the near post.
Nice one, son: Michael Owen is congratulated by
team-mates in Wolfsburg
As time drew on, it appeared as though a draw was
perhaps the limit of United’s ambitions. A good result that would
have been, too.
But after Ferguson sent on Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia
with 17 minutes left his team went on to steal the game.
Obertan, who has improved steadily since recovering from injury
six weeks ago, found a way past three men to cross low from the
left in the 83rd minute for the unmarked Owen to score from six
yards. And the decisive passage of play then followed as full-time
approached.
Wolfsburg looked odds-on to equalise when a low cross flew in
front of the United goal as white shirts closed in. But Darron
Gibson managed to clear the danger and within 10 seconds the ball
was in the net at the other end.
Challenge: Makoto Hasebe is challenged by Michael
Carrick, who played in the centre of United's defence
Fletcher forgot he was a defender and carried the ball
out before releasing Owen in to acres of space. The United striker
drew the goalkeeper and lifted the ball over him to secure a
hat-trick.
It was a little harsh on Wolfsburg but they had lost to a
masterclass from Owen. There is no shame in that.
