United Sweeps Aside Kiev to Progress (Manchester United 4 - Dynamo Kiev 0)

It was a convincing 4-0 victory to see United into the knockout stages. And it was well worth it braving the rain in the middle of the night to catch the game with Kentona at the kopitiam near where I live.

The first half was a pretty dormant affair with little excitement, but somehow we managed to get a 2-0 lead.

Pique, who had his first start in the CL in place of Rio, opened the scoring in the 30th min with a rather fortuitious goal. The ball had rebounding off a blatantly off-side Tevez before he headed it into the Kiev net. While the build up was lucky, take nothing away from Pique's header which was well placed past the keeper.

The second goal 7 mins later brought back memories of when the soul brothers played together. Tevez stripped a Kiev midfielder of the ball and received a give-and-go from Tevez to find himself one on one with the keeper. He had the simple task of blasting the ball to give us a 2-0 lead going into the half time break. We didn't create many chances in the half, but the lead was well deserved since we had almost complete control of the game.

The second half was a much better affair. Kiev came out of the blocks with a purpose and had it not been for substitute, Kuszczak's brilliant saves, we would have had a hard battle on our hands.

Instead it was United who went further in front thru Rooney in the 76th minute. And Ronaldo finished off a demoralised Kiev with a brilliant individual goal.

Personally, I felt Ronaldo had a pretty piss poor game. He spent too much time trying to showboat when we were 2-0 up, which I thought was unnecessary and rather insulting to the opponents. We had beaten them rather comprehensively and there was no need to add insult to injury. I suppose if there is one thing I would love to see him improve on is this.

Overall it was a competent display and the scoreline reflected our dorminance although Kiev did threaten in very short spurts.

With Roma and Sporting drawing in the other game in this group, we've progressed into the knockout stage.

Knowing Fergie, I'm pretty sure he's going to start using this opportunity to start resting players. I would rather we go all out to win at least one of the next two games to ensure that we qualify as the top dog from the group. I remember vividly that we were in a similar position a few years back and we went on to fuck up the next two matches, and more importantly, lost the top spot in the group, thus facing a stronger than expected opponent in the next stage. I believe it was the season where we faced Real Madrid and lost out to a brilliant Ronaldo (the fat one) hat-trick. That one was a fucking nightmare.

Let's hope someone has learnt his lesson and not start taking things for granted.

Superb Win (Dynamo Kiev 2 - Manchester United 4)

It was a superb display by the boys in red, and the scoreline did not do our performance any justice whatsoever. Rio, Rooney and Ronaldo(2) all got on the scoresheet, but it could and should have been so many more. The Dynamo defence didn't know what hit them, as we rained shot after shot on goal.

At times it almost seemed too easy and we often took an extra touch or dallied alittle too long. Such was our dominance that our defence went asleep and conceded two goals.

There were injury concerns before the game started when Scholes hurt his knee in the training session the previous day and Evra hurt his calf just before kickoff. O'Shea and Fletcher were called upon to replace them.

Rio opened the scoring early in the game when he rose unmarked to meet a Ronaldo freekick. Rooney added a second on 18 minutes to tap home a simple goal created by both Ronaldo and Brown. Dynamo's defence was in tatters as we ran and ripped them open time and time again.

Yet against the run of play, they pulled one back. Our defence was caught ball watching during a Dynamo corner and Rincon headed it beyond a flapping Van der Sar. I felt both EVS and our defenders should have done better.

In the larger scheme of things, it really didn't matter. We poured forward and literally camped in Dynamo's half. 40 minutes into the game, Giggs turned back the clock as he pushed the ball and ran past his marker down the left flank. He put in a superb cross right on the head of Ronaldo and Ronaldo had the simple task of heading it home. It was the best goal of the game and our cushion was restored.

The second half was more of the same magnificient stuff as we tore Dynamo apart without really adding to our advantage. Anderson, who's been sensational, struck the post.

After missing a hatful of chances, we took the foot off the pedal, probably eyeing the Saturday fixture against Boro. For a brief moment....just a brief moment, Dynamo showed that they belonged in this weight category and actually looked threatening.

Yet we were the ones who scored next. In a counter attack, Tevez's cross was handled by the defender in the box and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped our regular penalty-taker Ronaldo (God forbide Rooney from another penalty) and we were 4-1 up. The game was as good as wrapped up.

Dynamo rounded up the scoring by adding another consolation goal, after we went asleep again.

We probably could have ended the game with a flourish, but both Ronaldo and substitute, Nani, got abit too fanciful.

At the end of it, it was a great performance. We've been banging in the goals lately and the entire attack seems to have clicked. We look awesome going forward and everytime it seems like we're going to score.

Special mention must go to Anderson today. I know that in my private circle of friends, I've been extraordinarily harsh against Anderson, but with Scholes out of the game, Anderson probably had his best game in a United shirt. He was spraying passes left and right, long ones and short ones with great accuracy. And what was really great to see, was that he looked pretty good tackling too....at least he looks better than Scholes while doing it. The kid is maturing before my eyes. Now all that remains is for him to do it against some really opponents.

It's been a long time coming, but Giggs was simply awesome today. At times it was like watching a 17 year old Giggs against Arsenal again! I don't know what he had for lunch, but I'd like to have some of it too. Very simply, he was my man of the match today.

Despite the recent additions to our injury list, everyone had a pretty much great game today. We're sitting really pretty with 9 points on the table and progress to the next round almost confirmed. More importantly, we looked awesome getting them. Maybe, just maybe I've been too hasty writing our chances off a little too early. As long as we play like this, we have a great chance of beating anyone and actually winning the Holy Grail.

Bring on Southgate and his whiny bunch pussies this Saturday. I can't wait to see us cream them....and for Ronaldo to score another penalty.