8 November 2007, by Sean Gillen

Ronaldo and Nani shine as United hit four again

Manchester United 4-0 Dynamo Kiev

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani both played significant roles as Manchester United secured qualification for the knockout phase of the Champions League by thrashing Dynamo Kiev.

Nani provided an assist and Ronaldo got his fourth goal in the competition this season as Roma’s late equaliser against Sporting in Lisbon confirmed United’s place in the last sixteen.

The Ukrainians arrived needing a victory, but their approach was cautious and rarely did Oleg Luzhny’s side attempt to challenge the United defence. The result was a somewhat frustrating opening twenty minutes, with Ronaldo hooking over early on but otherwise little in the way of goalmouth action.

United eventually took the lead through a bizarre goal just after half an hour. Ronaldo’s free-kick was met by Carrick, whose attempted head struck Carlos Tevez before looping up to the back post, where Gerard Pique rose highest to nod down into the bottom corner.

The lead was doubled six minutes later when Tevez played a nice one-two with Rooney and smashed his finish past Shovkovskiy. With his team seemingly down and out at the break, Kiev boss Luzhny made a double attacking substitution for the second half, and the introduction of Rincon and Rebrov resulted in a far more entertaining and open second half.

Nani, who was deployed on the left flank opposite Ronaldo, saw an effort saved, while his compatriot shot wide following a one-two with Patrice Evra. Meanwhile, Kiev created a couple of good opportunities that brought good saves from substitute United goalkeeper Kuszczak.

Pinpoint Nani cross

Tevez and Simpson both missed chances for the hosts but the game was made safe when Nani added yet another assist to his season collection. The summer signing from Sporting received the ball on the right and delivered a perfect centre for Rooney to cushion the ball into the corner.

Rooney then tried to return the favour, picking Nani out at the back post but the 20-year-old was denied from a tight angle by Shovkovskiy. Almost immediately, Nani went close again with a superb left-footed shot that whistled past the base of the post.

Portugal star Ronaldo had been cutting an increasingly frustrated figure as chances rained down but few fell to the 22-year-old. However, with just two minutes left he created a fine individual goal for himself. Racing down the left flank, Ronaldo tricked his way inside Diakhate onto his favoured right foot and rifled a shot into the far corner.

Despite winning their fourth match of the section and reaching twelve points, the United players left the field believing they still had work to do to qualify, but Roma’s last-gasp equaliser in Lisbon means the Red Devils can begin planning for the next stages.

Man Utd:
Van der Sar (Kuszczak 46), Simpson, Vidic, Pique (Evans 72), Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Nani, Fletcher, Rooney, Tevez (Saha 67)
Yellow Cards: Rooney

Dynamo Kiev:
Shovkovskiy, Fedorov, Vashchuk, El Kaddouri, Markovic, Diakhate, Rotan (Rebrov 46), Correa, Gusev (Rincon 46), Ghioane, Milevskiy (Bangoura 76)
Yellow Cards: Diakhate, Correa

Goals:
[1-0] Pique, 31
[2-0] Tevez, 37
[3-0] Rooney, 76
[4-0] Ronaldo, 88