Champions League - Giggs rescues point for United

Ryan Giggs netted late on to give Manchester United a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Celtic in their Champions League Group E clash at Parkhead.

The reigning champions trailed to Scott McDonald's wonderful 13th minute chip before Giggs swooped to head an equaliser with six minutes remaining after Celtic keeper Artur Boruc had found Cristiano Ronaldo's rasping drive too hot to handle.

The night had promised much for Celtic, for whom a win would have revived hopes of qualifying from the group, but their decision to sit back and allow United to stage a siege in the final quarter of the match became their undoing.

United's late pressure was relentless and despite some at-times heroic defending from the hosts, holding on to all three points ultimately proved too much for Gordon Strachan's side.

Indeed, they could easily - and perhaps should - have ended the evening with none, substitute Dimitar Berbatov missing a guilt-edged chance in injury time that would have seen United steal victory at the death.

The result sees the holders retain top spot in Group E after Villarreal were held to a 2-2 draw in Aalborg - both sides have eight points - while Celtic hold on to third place with two points, ahead of the Danes on goal difference.

Despite having started the game with both Wayne Rooney and Berbatov on the bench, the opening stages of the match mirrored recent form with United starting far the brighter of the two sides.

The visitors enjoyed more possession than their hosts during the opening exchanges, although Boruc in the Celtic goal was barely called into action for the entire first half.

For that, the Pole was grateful to the defence in front of him who made sure United were kept at bay.

Soon after kick-off Boruc was particularly indebted to Andreas Hinkel who - playing out of position at right-back - did well to put Ronaldo off his shot after the ball had fallen kindly to him on the penalty spot.

Ronaldo then went close with a typically well-hit free-kick on 10 minutes, although Boruc appeared to have his angles well covered.

McDonald's goal came against the run of play, but his clever and perfectly executed chip over Ben Foster - who was a spectator for much of the remainder of the game - was worthy of breaking the deadlock.

United responded well to going a goal down and continued to pass the ball around with confidence, yet from open play they still struggled to create any clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.

In fact, for the majority of the match, the visitors looked their most dangerous at corner kicks, from which Celtic's defending left a great deal to be desired.

United could have found the back of the net from corners on at least two occasions before the half-time whistle sounded - and once after the break - as the Celtic back line neglected their marking duties.

The first chance fell to Rio Ferdinand at the far post on 19 minutes, but the England stopper was always leaning back and the ball did not sit for him quickly enough; his eventual effort on goal flew over the bar.

And then Ferdinand's defensive partner Nemanja Vidic headed over just before the break as Celtic's marking from a corner was again non-existent.

Berbatov was brought on as a half-time substitute in a bid to use the Bulgarian's guile to unlock what proved to be an increasingly dogged Celtic rearguard.

On 57 minutes, the decision to bring him on nearly paid off when his flick - reminiscent of the one that found the back of the net a fortnight ago - was cleared off the line.

Celtic's defending became more and more desperate as the second half wore on, with a goalmouth scramble nearly resulting in a goal on 68 minutes before Ronaldo and then Rooney - on as a substitute by that point - forced Boruc into making saves.

As United increased the pressure and Celtic opted to sit on their lead, a goal was never far away.

Giggs did not disappoint the travelling fans, although Berbatov should have sealed all three points with the last kick of the game; one which dragged the ball wide of the post following a bad slip by Darren O'Dea in the Celtic six-yard box.

AaB Aalborg 2-2 Villarreal

A late free-kick from Anders Due gave Aalborg a 2-2 draw with Villarreal to keep alive the Danish champions' slim hopes of advancing from Group E.

With new manager Allan Kuhn at the helm, Aalborg searched feverishly for their first group victory but Villarreal struck first.

Robert Pires released Giuseppe Rossi on the edge of the penalty area in the 41st minute and the Italian international, who had hit the crossbar five minutes before, moved to his left to avoid two Aalborg defenders and finished with a precise low shot.

Jeppe Curth levelled the score after a nifty back heel pass from Caca in the 54th minute, only for substitute Guille Franco to put Villarreal ahead again in the 75th minute after the hosts failed to clear a free kick.

Franco collected Joseba Llorente's chip over the Danish defence and slipped the ball past goalkeeper Karim Zaza.

Villarreal's second lead lasted only six minutes before Due blasted a free kick over the wall and in the top corner from 25 yards, giving Aalborg their second point in the group.

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