Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg: Mata shines as Van Gaal's men come from behind
The Spain international scored one and set up the
other as the Red Devils recovered from an early
set back to pick up three points
Manchester United kickstarted their Champions
League campaign by edging out Wolfsburg 2-1 in
an entertaining Group B clash at Old Trafford.
Goals from Juan Mata and Chris Smalling proved
the perfect riposte to Daniel Caligiuri's fourth-
minute opener as Louis van Gaal's men took the
spoils on Wednesday.
United headed into the fixture desperate to secure
all three points, having fallen to a 2-1 loss at PSV
in their opening group game.
However, they were stunned when Caligiuri gave
the Bundesliga side an early lead to raise hopes
they could follow up their win over CSKA Moscow
by claiming another three points.
But the home side men responded superbly and,
having missed a series of good chances, levelled
when Mata converted from the penalty spot after
Caligiuri's handball.
Smalling then slid home a second just after the
interval, with United clinging on thereafter to get
up and running in Group B.
The Premier League side got off to a terrible start
as the visitors caught them out by taking an early
lead.
Caligiuri superbly cut in from the right wing and,
after some neat one-touch interplay, received a
through-ball back from Max Kruse. The striker,
profiting on inexplicably being played onside by
Antonio Valencia, controlled and curled a
composed finish around David De Gea.
The hosts almost levelled soon after going
behind when Dante headed Mata's goal-bound
effort around the post.
Anthony Martial was next to threaten, utilising
quick feet to beat Ricardo Rodriguez and Dante
before hammering just wide.
The Frenchman continued to look United's biggest
danger, epitomised by him easily beating
Rodriguez and crossing for Wayne Rooney - only
for United's skipper to somehow miss the target
from eight yards.
Their frustration continued for the home side
when Memphis Depay spurned another golden
chance, heading straight at Diego Benaglio from
Mata's fine pass.
A deserved equaliser finally came in the 34th
minute, Mata sending Benaglio the wrong way
after Caligiuri had handled his effort in the area.
Depay should have made it 2-1 before the break
when his effort was kept out by Benaglio, but
United were in front when Smalling netted after 53
minutes.
Bastian Schweinsteiger's scuffed effort fell to
Mata and the Spaniard's sublime back-heeled
flick over the top left the centre-back to slide an
effort into the corner.
Wolfsburg offered a quick reminder of their threat,
however, when Caligiuri's stinging effort forced De
Gea into a smart stop.
The visitors continued to look a considerable
threat, with substitute Andre Schurrle hitting
narrowly wide.
De Gea's goal was increasingly under siege as
Wolfsburg pressed forward in search of an
equaliser.
Yet United tightened up despite the odd frenetic
moment and held on to ensure all four teams in
Group B have three points.
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