Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his 28th European goal Tuesday as Manchester United beat Stuttgart 2-0 in the Champions League to win Group E.
Both clubs had already qualified for the second stage, but United's victory ensured the English side topped the group and avenged its 2-1 defeat at Stuttgart on Oct. 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"I am delighted," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said. "We kept our patience, had good possession of the ball. I am very pleased. It was a European performance really."
Van Nistelrooy scored in first half injury time. Ryan Giggs chipped the ball over the Stuttgart defense for Van Nistelrooy to leap in the air and head the ball past Stuttgart 'keeper Timo Hildebrand.
The Dutchman skidded on his knees and punched the air with both arms in celebration -- the goal was his 28th in 30 European appearances, equaling Manchester United's European goalscoring record of Denis Law, who scored 28 goals in 33 matches.
Giggs scored the second in the 58th minute. Van Nistelrooy displayed tenacious footwork to elude several Stuttgart defenders and cross for Giggs to run forward and score past Hildebrand. Giggs has now scored in nine different Champions League campaigns.
Manchester United extended its unbeaten home record in the Champions League to 16 matches.
Celta de Vigo and Sparta Prague advanced to the final 16, eliminating esteemed clubs Lazio and four-time former winner Ajax.
Former Spanish international Jose Ignacio Saenz scored in the 71st minute to lead Celta over a depleted AC Milan 2-1. FC Brugge's 2-1 win over Ajax in the other Group H game sent the Dutch out of the competition and the Belgians into the UEFA Cup.
In Group G, Sparta Prague substitute Marek Kincl scored in second-half injury time to beat Lazio 1-0. With Chelsea beating Turkish club Besiktas 2-0, the Czechs took the second spot. Besiktas finished third.
Celta and Sparta join defending champion AC Milan and former winners Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid and FC Porto, as well as Monaco, Chelsea and Stuttgart.
Panathinaikos and Marseille finished third in their groups to also drop into the UEFA Cup.
In Brugge, substitute Bengt Saeternes scored with seven minutes left to give the Belgians a 2-1 win over Ajax.
Chelsea avenged its 2-0 defeat by Besiktas by defeating the club by the same margin to top Group G.
Rangers fell 3-1 at home to Panathinaikos to send the Greeks into the UEFA Cup.
Rangers only needed a point to finish third in Group E and opened the scoring through Michael Mols. But the Greeks rallied with goals from Raimondas Zutautas, Angelos Basinas and Cypriot forward Michalis Constantinou.
An unfamiliar Real Madrid drew 1-1 against Porto on a soaking Santiago Bernabeu Stadium pitch to win Group F.
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