<
>

Ashley Young's 7/10 for Man United sparks Juventus comeback

Another Manchester United game and another late winner; another game in which United conceded first but another when Jose Mourinho's team showed enough character to fight back.

Statement wins away from home in the Champions League have been in short supply since Sir Alex Ferguson retired five years ago, but this was one. Since United won 3-0 in Turin in the second group stage in February 2003, Juventus have lost just one of their 35 home Champions League matches in the group stages.

Mourinho's team needed two goals in the last four minutes but are now in a fantastic position to qualify from Group H and make it into the knockout rounds. What Cristiano Ronaldo volley?

Positives

United have developed a nasty habit of starting games slowly -- they were a goal down inside 20 minutes when Juventus won at Old Trafford -- but that wasn't the case here. They kept Juve at arm's length in the first half and looked comfortable until Ronaldo's fantastic finish on 65 minutes. Then... that comeback.

Negatives

Mourinho's teams are famous for being able to keep clean sheets but they seem incapable at the moment. They have only had three all season and it is noticeable how many chances they leak. It doesn't bode well ahead of a trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

Manager Rating (out of 10)

7 -- Mourinho's two decisions were to start with Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera and both looked like the right calls. United were more organised in the first half than they were at Bournemouth -- it would have been hard to be that bad again -- and the United manager got his substitutions right, particularly bringing on Marouane Fellaini who caused a lot of problems in the last 10 minutes.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK David De Gea, 7 -- Fantastic low save to prevent Juan Cuadrado's cross finding the net after it deflected off Nemanja Matic and he made another from Miralem Pjanic in the second half.

DF Ashley Young, 7 -- Fantastic cross into the box from the right which squirmed into the net to hand United victory. His delivery from set pieces is one of the reasons why he is keeping Antonio Valencia out of the team.

DF Luke Shaw, 7 -- Fantastic header clear to deny Cuadrado the chance to score. Didn't get forward too much but perhaps it was not the night to be getting forward.

DF Chris Smalling, 7 -- Trusted again by Mourinho despite a poor first half at Bournemouth and didn't let him down. He won his physical battles and defended well.

DF Victor Lindelof, 6 -- Brave block from a Ronaldo shot early on but lost him when Leonardo Bonucci floated a ball over the top to allow the former United man to smash Juventus into the lead.

MF Nemanja Matic, 6 -- Picked up an early booking for chopping down Paulo Dybala but kept his discipline for the rest of the game.

MF Ander Herrera, 7 -- Making his first start for a month, he was fortunate Sami Khedira could only hit the post when he lost the German in the box. Added much needed energy in midfield and should keep his place for the derby.

MF Paul Pogba, 6 -- Back at the club where he made himself a star, it was one of those nights when nothing seemed to come off. One or two eye catching passes out to the flanks and won the free-kick from which Mata equalised.

FW Jesse Lingard, 6 -- Back in the team after seven games out but started well, finding pockets of space in the first half, particularly when United were trying to break. Worked hard but tired before being taken off.

FW Anthony Martial, 7 -- Had half a chance early in the second half when he flashed a shot past the far post. United's man in form and their most dangerous forward again.

FW, Alexis Sanchez, 6 -- Far more mobile than Lukaku which helps United when they go forward and always works hard. Picked up a knock in the first half that he never seemed able to shake off.

Substitutes

FW Marcus Rashford (for Lingard), 6 -- Flashed one shot just past Szczesny's post and looked a threat. Should have made it 3-1.

MF Marouane Fellaini (for Sanchez) -- Unsettled Juventus' experienced centre-backs. N/A

MF Juan Mata (for Herrera) -- Fantastic free-kick to equalise. N/A