Wolfsburg 1 Manchester Utd 3: Brilliant Michael Owen fires hat-trick to ensure United top their Champions League group
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.
