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11-07-2007, 11:52 PM
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United celebrate against Kiev
Manchester United and Arsenal booked their places in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, but Rangers were beaten in Barcelona.

Lyon's triumph over Stuttgart moves them to within a point of the Scottish giants, while in Group C Inter and Fenerbahce look set to progress.

Sevilla are on course to join the Gunners, who drew 0-0 with Slavia Prague, in the last 16 of the competition after their win away to Steaua Bucharest.

Manchester United cruised to a 4-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev at Old Trafford to extend their 100 per cent record and qualify with two games to spare.

United's first goal is probably not one they have rehearsed on the training ground, as Michael Carrick headed Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick goalwards, only to see it strike the back of Carlos Tevez's head, with Gerard Pique quickest to react and he headed home.

But their second was classic United, Tevez driving at the retreating Kiev defence before playing a one-two with Rooney and drilling a shot beyond Alexander Shovkovsky.

Rooney then made it 3-0 after the break, volleying home from close range after Nani's superb cross into the Kiev box and Cristiano Ronaldo completed the scoring in the closing stages with his seventh in as many Champions League games.

A late own goal from Anderson Polga snatched victory away from Sporting Lisbon as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Roma, who remain second in Group F.

Marco Cassetti gave the visitors an early lead with an unstoppable shot into the top corner after Simone Perrotta had played the ball into his path on the left of the area.

But a comedy of errors in the Roma defence allowed Sporting to level as Philippe Mexes took the ball away from Doni and allowed Liedson to slot home.

And Liedson then dived to head home a second in the 64th minute from Marat Izmailov's cross from the left, only for David Pizarro's late long-range effort to take a wicked deflection off Polga and give goalkeeper Tiago no chance.

Having been unable to break Rangers down for 90 minutes in the fixture at Ibrox, Barcelona needed just seven to make the breakthrough at Camp Nou, although they enjoyed a slice of good fortune.

Ronaldinho clipped a free-kick to the far post where an unmarked Lionel Messi headed back across goal and Thierry Henry forced the ball over the line, but replays showed the final touch came from his arm.

Messi, who accused Rangers of playing 'anti-football' in the first leg, then made it two before the interval as he exchanged passes with Ronaldinho, with the Brazilian's shot saved by Allan McGregor, only for the young Argentinian to mop up the rebound.

Lyon made the perfect start against Stuttgart with Hatem Ben Arfa opening the scoring after just six minutes, his shot taking a huge deflection off Andreas Beck, before Kim Kallstrom doubled their advantage with an excellent second after good work from Sidney Govou.

But Stuttgart responded immediately as Mario Gomez pounced to fire home the loose ball after Remy Vercoutre found Thomas Hitzlsperger's shot too hot to handle.

The home side restored their two-goal cushion before the interval with Ben Arfa's audacious piece of skill creating the chance for an equally ambitious shot, which Raphael Schafer may feel he could have done better with.

Stuttgart reduced the deficit after the interval with Gomez forcing the ball home from close range from Beck's low centre, but then missed a glorious opportunity to level as Vercoutre made a superb save from Hitzlsperger's penalty after Fabio Santos was penalised for a challenge on Gomez, although replays showed contact was clearly outside the box.

Juninho added a fourth in the third minute of added time with the French champions moving to just one point behind Rangers.

Arsenal, needing only a point to go through after their 7-0 demolition of Slavia Prague last time out at Emirates Stadium, earned just that after a stalemate in the return fixture.

Arsene Wenger sent out a much-changed side and the Gunners failed to hit their previous heights with Zdenek Senkerik coming closest to breaking the deadlock when he broke clear only for Manuel Almunia to smother the chance.

Sevilla are on course to join Arsenal in the knockout phase after their 2-0 victory away to Steaua Bucharest.

Renato opened the scoring when he forced the ball home after Robinson Zapata was unable to hold Christian Poulsen's powerful header from Jesus Navas' corner, with the same duo combining for a superb second after the interval.

Internazionale survived a scare against CSKA Moscow, coming from 2-0 down to triumph 4-2 and dump the Russians out of the competition.

Jo silenced the San Siro with the opener after 23 minutes before an astonishing spell of three goals in four minutes.

First Wagner Love doubled CSKA's advantage only for Inter to respond and immediately get back on level terms through Zlatan Ibrahimovic's close-range strike and Esteban Cambiasso's cool finish from Hernan Crespo's dummy.

And Cambiasso (67) made it 3-2 as he drilled home from the edge of the six-yard box after Ibrahimovic's cute flick from a corner with the Swede then unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

Fenerbahce are poised to join them in the next phase as they defeated PSV Eindhoven with two goals in the opening half hour.

Teenage defender Dirk Marcellis put through his own net after Kazim Kazim's shot from the edge of the box, before Semih Senturk added a second after 30 minutes, finishing a crisp passing move with a neat finish.

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