United reach knockout stage

Manchester United became the third side to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League this season after a come from behind 3-1 win over Portuguese opponents Braga last night.

All the United goals came in the second half through Robin van Persie, a penalty from Wayne Rooney and Mexican striker Javier Hernandez after Alan had given the hosts the lead early in the second half from the penalty spot.

United join 2004 champions Porto and debutants Malaga of Spain – who both qualified on Tuesday – in the last 16.

In a match interrupted for 10 minutes by floodlight failure, Alan shot Braga ahead from the penalty spot. But, United struck back when Van Persie came off the bench and punished a blunder by Braga keeper Beto, who inexplicably rushed out of his goal and was caught in no man’s land.

Rooney put United ahead from a penalty soon after and, with Braga in disarray, Hernandez made it 3-1 in injury time after a goal-mouth muddle.

Group H leaders United have 12 points from four games. Cluj and Galatasaray are on four points, with Braga on three.

A 94th-minute winner by substitute Victor Moses gave Chelsea a dramatic 3-2 win at home to Shakhtar Donetsk that reinvigorated their European title defence.

The champions looked set for a damaging draw at Stamford Bridge that would have them left them at risk of a group-stage exit until Moses rose to meet Juan Mata’s corner deep into stoppage time and claim his first ever goal in the competition.

Chelsea had led twice, only for Shakhtar to reply on both occasions through Willian, as the Ukrainian champions threatened to inflict more misery on Roberto Di Matteo’s side after their 2-1 win in Ukraine two weeks ago.

However, Moses’s goal enabled Chelsea to draw level with Shakhtar on seven points in Group E, giving them a one-point advantage over third-placed Juventus ahead of what looks set to be a decisive show-down in Turin on November 20.

Bayern Munich ran riot at the Allianz Arena as Claudio Pizarro scored a hat-trick in only 15 minutes in a 6-1 hammering of hapless French side Lille.

The 34-year-old Pizarro needed just a quarter of an hour in the first half to wrap up his treble as Bayern raced into a 5-0 lead after only 33 minutes as the French club suffered their worst away defeat in the Champions League.

Despite the drubbing and after Valencia won 4-2 at home to BATE Borisov, Bayern are only second in the group behind the Spaniards while Lille are definitely out having garnered not a single point.

Juventus supreme

In Turin, Juventus ended their record run of nine European draws and revived their campaign by demolishing Nordsjaelland 4-0 in an embarrassingly one-side game.

Juve’s win was never in doubt after Claudio Marchisio opened the scoring from Mauricio Isla’s cross.

Further goals by Arturo Vidal and Sebastian Giovinco made it 3-0 by half-time as the Nordic team barely got out of their own half, then substitute Fabio Quagliarella added a fourth in the 75th minute.

Scottish champions Celtic stunned four-time Champions League winners Barcelona, running out 2-1 winners in their Group G match just a day after the victors celebrated their 125th birthday.

Goals by Victor Wanyama and 18-year-old Tony Watt gave Celtic a famous victory with Lionel Messi grabbing a late consolation but it was not enough to save Barcelona from their first loss in three years in the group stage.

Victory saw Celtic consolidate second spot in the table which would ensure them a place in the knockout round.

Barcelona – who had required just a point to ensure they moved into the Last 16 yesterday – top the group on nine points with Celtic on seven, three points ahead of Russian side Spartak Moscow, and just two matches remaining.

Summaries

Chelsea 3
Torres 6; Oscar 40; Moses 90;
S. Donetsk 2
Willian 9, 47;

Juventus 4
Marchisio 6; Vidal 23; Giovinco 37; Quagliarella 75;
Nordsjaelland 0

Valencia 4
Jonas 26; Soldado 29 pen; Feghouli 51, 86;
B. Borisov 2
Bressan 53; Mozolevski 83;

B. Munich 6
Schweinsteiger 5; Pizarro 18, 28, 33; Robben 23; Kroos 66;
Lille 1
Kalou 58;

Benfica 2
Cardozo 55, 69;
S. Moscow 0

Red card: Pareja (SM) 77.
Missed penalty: Cardozo (B) 78.

Celtic 2
Wanyama 21; Watt 83;
Barcelona 1
Messi 90;

Braga 1
Alan 49 pen;
Man. United 3
Van Persie 81; Rooney 85 pen; Hernandez 90;

CFR Cluj 1
Sougou 53;
Galatasaray 3
Yilmaz 18, 61, 74;

Group E

S. Donetsk vs Nordsjaelland - 2-0
Chelsea vs Juventus - 2-2
Juventus vs S. Donetsk - 1-1
Nordsjaelland vs Chelsea - 0-4
Nordsjaelland vs Juventus - 1-1
S. Donetsk vs Chelsea - 2-1
Juventus vs Nordsjaelland - 4-0
Chelsea vs S. Donetsk - 3-2
20/11/12: Nordsjaelland vs S. Donetsk
20/11/12: Juventus vs Chelsea
05/12/12: S. Donetsk vs Juventus
05/12/12: Chelsea vs Nordsjaelland

Group F

Lille vs Bate Borisov - 1-3
B. Munich vs Valencia - 2-1
Valencia vs Lille - 2-0
Bate Borisov vs B. Munich - 3-1
Bate Borisov vs Valencia - 0-3
Lille vs Bayern Munich - 0-1
Valencia vs B. Borisov - 4-2
Bayern Munich vs Lille - 6-1
20/11/12: Bate Borisov vs Lille
20/11/12: Valencia vs B. Munich
05/12/12: Lille vs Valencia
05/12/12: B. Munich vs Bate Borisov

Group G

Barcelona vs S. Moscow - 3-2
Celtic vs Benfica - 0-0
Benfica vs Barcelona - 0-2
S. Moscow vs Celtic - 2-3
S. Moscow vs Benfica - 2-1
Barcelona vs Celtic - 2-1
Benfica vs S. Moscow - 2-0
Celtic vs Barcelona - 2-1
20/11/12: S. Moscow vs Barcelona
20/11/12: Benfica vs Celtic
05/12/12: Barcelona vs Benfica
05/12/12: Celtic vs S. Moscow

Group H

Man. United vs Galatasaray - 1-0
Braga vs CFR Cluj - 0-2
CFR Cluj vs Man. United - 1-2
Galatasaray vs Braga - 0-2
Galatasaray vs CFR Cluj - 1-1
Man. United vs Braga - 3-2
Cluj vs Galatasaray - 1-3
Braga vs Man. United - 1-3
20/11/12: Galatasaray vs Man. United
20/11/12: CFR Cluj vs Braga
05/12/12: Man. United vs CFR Cluj
05/12/12: Braga vs Galatasaray