(CNN) -- Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov dealt Celtic a double blow as holders Manchester United won their all-British clash 3-0 to stay top of their Champions League group at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Berbatov two goals, the first above, both looked offside as United claimed a 3-0 Champions victory.
Berbatov was on target after 30 and 51 minutes, but television replays suggested that both goals should have been disallowed for offside by the Belgian linesman.
"It's not my decision to make, I am trying to score, it's for the referee and he said no offside," said a delighted Berbatov.
"It was great for me to score again here and importantly we won the game."
The hapless linesman later ruled out a Wayne Rooney effort when he was clearly onside, but the England marksman had the finally say when he Rooney completed a slick 76th minute move started by goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
On a high-scoring night -- the 36 goals in eight games equalled the tournament record -- substitute Joseba Llorente scored a hat-trick in 17 minutes as United's Group E rivals Villarreal beat Aalborg 6-3.
Llorente struck in the 67th, 70th and 84th minutes to add to goals by Giuseppe Rossi in the 28th, Joan Capdevila in the 33rd and Robert Pires in the 79th.
Aalborg took the lead of the Group E match at El Madrigal stadium through Marek Saganowski in the 19th, with Thomas Enevoldsen scoring the Danish team's second goal in the 36th and Andreas Johansson heading the third in the 77th.
Villarreal has seven points from three matches, while Aalborg has with one point.
Celtic did not really make a fight of it against United, allowing Alex Ferguson to gain the personal satisfaction of avenging a defeat at Parkhead on the last meeting between the teams two years ago.
Don't Miss
* Football fanzone
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson abandoned a plan to leave out Cristiano Ronaldo, so the Portugal winger was an obvious attacking outlet, as was in-form Rooney who now has nine in seven games for club and country.
There was an early scare for United when Gary Caldwell let fly from 20 meters, forcing Edwin van der Sar into a fingertip save, but it was a rare moment of attacking optimism for the Scottish club.
United's opener came from a Nani corner helped on by John O'Shea, and Berbatov, with his back to goal, flicked it past Artur Boruc.
Berbatov tapped home his second six minutes after halftime, the striker profiting from a blistering Ronaldo free-kick Boruc could not hold.
Ferguson was delighted with Berbatov's performance, saying: "It was fantastic, a marvellous performance again.
"He is bringing that composure to the final third of the field. Hopefully the combination is developing with not only Wayne but also Carlos (Tevez), but he had a little hip injury tonight so we took him off."
Rooney scooped a shot over before Berbatov left to a standing ovation, replaced by Tevez.
Rooney's second rounded off a rewarding night as United bid to become the first side to retain the title since the league format was launched in 1992
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar