Manchester United's second-half goals defeat Bursaspor in Turkey
Manchester United produced an effective away display in the Champions League on Tuesday, 2 November, overcoming Turkish champions Bursaspor 3–0 in the fourth game of the group stage.
Second-half goals from Darren Fletcher and youngsters Gabriel Obertan and Bebe helped Sir Alex Ferguson's team against the Turkish side, who failed to capitalize on their home advantage in the game.
"We got one early in second half and that makes a difference," Ferguson told Sky Sports after the victory. "From that point on we were basically in control of the match although they had a couple of half
chances so you can never be sure but the second goal killed match."
Evra contributes at both ends
Dimitar Berbatov tested Dimitar Ivankov with a half-volley with 12 minutes gone, but the goalkeeper collected the ball comfortably.
A rare mistake by left-back Patrice Evra let in Sercan Yildirim, who laid the ball off to Turgay Bahadir on the right flank. The striker advanced into the United box but his chipped shot hit Edwin van
der Sar's shoulder before going out for a corner.
Evra then sped down the left channel after being played through by Berbatov, serving Darren Fletcher an inviting cross in the Bursaspor box, but the Scot hit his volley wide of the left post.
Six minute before the break, Untited lingered around the Turkish box before Paul Scholes found a way through and sent the ball into the left corner, but his goal was ruled out for handball.
Berbatov and Ji-Sung Park, who came on for the injured Nani in the first half, combined outside the Bursaspor penalty in the 48th minute before the ball fell to Michael Carrick.
Fletcher opens the scoring
Carrick's first-time ball found Fletcher on the right side of the box, and the midfielder made amends for his first-half miss by drilling the ball low into the left corner to open United's account.
French winger Obertan then got his first goal for United after Bursaspor failed to respond to the opening goal.
The 21-year-old collected a pass in his stride on the left, took two touches on the edge of the box and smashed a shot high into the net to double his team's lead with 73 minutes gone.
Four minutes later, a clever ball from Scholes released Bebe in the box, and the winger toe-punted his first European goal just inside the right post to complete the scoreline at 3–0.
United now have 10 points from four games in Group C, while Bursaspor have lost all of their games so far.
Valencia CF are second on seven points, with Rangers FC two points behind them with two games left in the group stage.
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