Manchester United leave it late against Wolfsburg

Manchester United 2 Wolfsburg 1. Premier League champions Manchester United battled back at Old Trafford last night from a goal down with just half an hour to go to win their second Champions League Group B game on the bounce against spirited opposition from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

They now top their group with six points, and the only blot on the night for manager Alex Ferguson was seeing England striker Michael Owen limp off after just 20 minutes with a groin strain that is expected to keep him out of action for more than three weeks. The disappointment for the player was compounded by the presence at the game of Fabio Capello, who was there to run the rule over him for the national team.

Both side started the encounter brightly, with the lively Germans not awed in the slightest by United. The first exchanges saw Wolfsburg press for an early goal, and lazy defending from Nemanja Vidic almost handed Christian Gentner a gilt-edged chance, which he ended up tamely shooting at Tomasz Kuszczak.

Owen's injury saw Dimitar Berbatov come on, and he immediately injected some purpose into what had been a somewhat lacklustre home performance until then with his probing passes. Twice he almost set up goals for Valencia - with a sumptuous backheel - and Michael Carrick, who was denied by the keeper's boot.

The second half saw United continue to press for the opener, and Anderson forced a sharp save from the Germans' keeper Diego Benaglio, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock. The excellent Edin Dzeko looped a header over Kuszczak after 56 minutes to silence the home crowd. However the inimitable Ryan Giggs soon levelled for United, when his free kick took a wicked deflection off the Wolfsburg wall past Benaglio - Giggs' 150th goal for the club.

It looked like the Welshman was on the scoresheet again just minutes later, but his effort was ruled offside, but the home side continued piled on the pressure. Eventually, with just 12 minutes to play, a fine move involving Wayne Rooney saw the ball fall to Michael Carrick, who sent a delightful curling shot past the despairing Wolfsburg goalkeeper.

Sir Alex raved yet again about Giggs in his post-match interviews, telling the Guardian: "The incredible thing is that he retains this youthfulness in his performances. It's as if he's just starting his career for the club. I don't know how many more plaudits you can give him but he's just continuing like a young man and enjoying his football. All the superlatives and praise he has had over the years, there is nothing to add to it. He's marvellous, the boy."