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Manchester United came from behind to defeat Wolfsburg 2-1 at Old Trafford and secure the first win of their Champions League campaign. The Red Devils found themselves trailing with just four minutes played as Max Kruse’s through-ball split their defence down the middle, allowing Daniel Caligiuri to nip in and slide the ball beyond David de Gea.
United responded with a period of intense pressure, with Juan Mata curling an effort towards the top corner in the 13th minute, kept out only by an inch-perfect header from Dante. They threatened again moments later as the free-scoring Anthony Martial escaped his marker and went for goal, bending his strike just wide of the target.
Louis van Gaal’s side had the chance to edge their noses in front from the penalty spot less than 10 minutes before the break when Mata’s cross struck the hand of Caligiuri in the box.
The Spaniard stepped up to take the kick himself and drove the ball beyond Diego Benaglio from 12 yards to level things up. United almost went into the interval with a slender lead as Mata picked out Memphis Depay in front of goal.
The Dutchman struck it on the turn, only to be denied by Benaglio’s legs. Van Gaal’s men took the lead less than 10 minutes into the restart through an unlikely source, Chris Smalling on hand to scramble Mata’s lofted pass beyond the Wolfsburg goalkeeper to put the hosts in front for the first time.
The Germans almost hit back within two minutes as Caligiuri worked his way into space in the box and pulled the trigger, forcing De Gea into a save. Wolfsburg’s best chance to net a late equaliser came three minutes from time when they won a free kick in a dangerous position Ricardo Rodríguez attempted to bend one into the top corner, shooting narrowly over. United held on to move up to second place in Group B, level on points with leaders PSV Eindhoven after two matches.
