A superb double by Memphis Depay took Manchester United a step nearer a return to the Champions League group stages as they ran out 3-1 winners over Belgian outfit Club Brugge on Tuesday in their play-off first leg clash. While United - who missed out on Champions League action last year - will take a comfortable looking two-goal lead to Belgium, Sporting Lisbon will have a slender one-goal advantage to bring with them to Moscow, although their 2-1 win over CSKA ended the Russian side's nine-game unbeaten streak in Champions League qualifying games.
United were hit by an early setback with an own goal by Michael Carrick, who beat Sergio Romero - preferred once again to David de Gea - to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. However, they drew level on the quarter-hour mark thanks to a sublime piece of individual skill from Depay, who lofted the ball over a Brugge defender, ran on to the ball and fired it into the net.
The Dutch star - a £25 million ($39.1 million, 35.2 million euros) signing from PSV Eindhoven in the close season - bettered that shortly before half-time, cutting in from the left and curling a superb effort past Sebastien Bruzzese. United huffed and puffed to get what could be a crucial third goal and finally managed it in the dying seconds, after Brugge had been reduced to 10 men, as Marouane Fellaini, who played under Brugge coach Michel Preud'homme at Standard Liege from 2006-08, scored.
United manager Louis van Gaal, who won the Champions League with a sublimely talented young Ajax side in 1995, said Fellaini's goal made a huge difference to the complexion of the tie. "It (Fellaini's goal) makes a difference because 2-1 is a very difficult result," said Van Gaal. "I am very happy for Memphis because a player needs that. I said it was a matter of time and hopefully he shall continue," added the 64-year-old Dutchman.
For former Belgian international goalkeeper Preud'homme Fellaini's goal was a bitter twist. "This last goal was very bad for the confidence," said Preud'homme. "It's a pity we let this one in," added the 56-year-old, who guided Brugge to the Belgian Cup trophy last season.
Sporting Lisbon got an early goal at home to Russian side CSKA Moscow as Costa Rican international Brian Ruiz set up Teofilo Guttierez and the 30-year-old Colombian marksman rifled the ball past experienced goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. CSKA had entered the match having yet to drop a point in five games in their domestic league but they looked anything but unbeatable in Lisbon as they were initially outplayed by the hosts.
However, they inched back into the match and should have been level but for Seydou Doumbia seeing his 27th minute penalty saved by Rui Patricio. Despite this disappointment, the Ivorian striker made no mistake five minutes from the half-time break, seizing on Roman Eremenko's perceptive through ball to beat Patricio this time round. The hosts, though, regained the lead eight minutes from time as Algerian international Islam Slimani finished off a delightful 1-2 with Andre Carrillo giving Akinfeev no chance.
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