Ruud van Nistelrooy bagged all four goals as Manchester United beat Sparta Prague 4-1 in a suprmely entertaining Group D match on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Lyon booked their place in the last sixteen as two injury-time strikes from Brazilian Nilmar lifted them to a 4-2 win over Fenerbahçe.
Van Nistelrooy, recalled after missing the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday through suspension, responded in style to manager Alex Ferguson's criticism of his expensive strike force by going one better than his partner Wayne Rooney.
Rooney scored a hat-trick on his United debut in their last home Champions League game against Fenerbahce.
Wednesday's victory lifted the English side into second place with eight points from four matches, two behind leaders Olympique Lyon who beat Fenerbahce 4-2 after two injury-time goals.
United went ahead on 14 minutes when Van Nistelrooy latched on to a poor back pass by defender Jiri Homola and coolly rounded keeper Jaromir Blazek before rolling the ball into an empty net.
The hosts had already struck the Sparta woodwork through a rasping shot from defender Gabriel Heinze and should have doubled their lead when Paul Scholes headed wide of a gaping goal from close range.
The Czechs' reprieve was short-lived, however, Scholes earning a 25th-minute penalty after being upended as he surged into the area and Van Nistelrooy calmly converted the spot-kick.
Sparta also had dangerous moments, Roy Carroll making a fine save to deny Lukas Zelenka, but United should have added a third just before the interval when Cristiano Ronaldo failed to beat Blazek after being released by Rooney's pass.
The Portuguese winger's profligacy looked worse eight minutes into the second half when Zelenka pulled a goal back for Sparta.
The lively forward tricked a static United defence with a dummy and ran on to a precise through ball before lifting the ball neatly over Carroll from 10 metres.
United looked rattled but Van Nistelrooy was on hand to settle their nerves on the hour.
The Dutchman was again the beneficiary of sloppy defending as he capitalised on a weak header back to stretch out a leg and lift the ball over Blazek.
The Czech goalkeeper made a diving save to keep out Ronaldo's blistering 30-metre free kick and the winger was substituted soon afterwards, along with Scholes, as Ferguson turned his attention to Sunday's Manchester derby against City.
Sparta never gave up but their evening match ended on a double sour note when their captain Karel Poborsky, returning to his former club, was sent off two minutes from time.
Poborsky had receved his second yellow card and Van Nistelrooy turned in Liam Miller's cross from close range in stoppage time to complete the rout, his seventh Champions League goal of the season.
Arsene Wenger has denied he had a mental problem with Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as his war of words with Sir Alex Ferguson continued.
Ferguson is understood to have accused Wenger of having a ´mental´ problem with the Dutch striker following the Arsenal manager´s outburst over his tackle on Ashley Cole in their heated encounter at Old Trafford last Sunday.
But a defiant Wenger said: "I can re-assure you that I have no mental problem with van Nistelrooy."
Ruud van Nistelrooy has pleaded guilty to a Football Association charge of serious foul play.
The charge related to his challenge on Arsenal's Ashley Cole, which looks set to land him a three-match ban after his admission.
"Throughout my 10-year career I believe my disciplinary record is very good, not only for Manchester United but at all clubs," said van Nistelrooy.
"I accept the charge brought by the FA and I take full responsibility."
Despite his admission, the Dutch international striker insisted there had been no malice in the tackle during Sunday's 2-0 win over Arsenal.
"There was no deliberate intent to harm Ashley Cole and I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to him," he said.
A three-man FA panel will still review the incident on Thursday but their verdict now appears academic as United have publicly stated they expect the striker to serve a three-match suspension.
That probably means he will miss Saturday's trip to Portsmouth and the game against Manchester City on 7 November, as well as either a potential fourth-round Carling Cup tie or the Premiership game against Newcastle on 14 November.
It will be the first time in his career the player has served a suspension.
A statement from United said: "Ruud van Nistelrooy has decided to accept the FA's charge of misconduct relating to the incident with Ashley Cole.
"Ruud has accepted the automatic penalty of a three-match suspension and Manchester United fully supports Ruud's decision."
RUUD van Nistelrooy had to deal with a wave of emotion before striking Manchester United's crucial penalty breakthrough against Arsenal.
Thirteen months ago his Old Trafford penalty miss against the Gunners stopped United going top of the Premiership.
It was a spot kick error that was to be regarded as a pivotal title moment.
Faced with United's championship hopes effectively resting on his 12-yard shoot-out with Jens Lehmann again, the nerveless Dutchman beat the German this time around.
"It was a big emotional moment," said Ruud. "I realised straight away how big it was going to be. After what happened last year, it was very tense.
"When I stepped up, everyone expected me to put it away better than I did last year and thankfully, I did it. I set my mind well and took it well. I am happy I dealt with it the way I did.
"It was fantastic to see it go in the net. It was a big moment for me and the club and everyone in the stadium.
"It was a big day for us. You could feel it in the stadium. Everyone was up for it and ready to give everything. It was a class game and one or two moments decided it.
"I felt whoever scored first was going to win the game, so I am glad we did.
"This was the moment for us all to step up and do the job. That shows enough about the character of the players and staff. We never looked like giving chances or goals away. It was a very good performance by the whole team. We worked so hard and defended so well.
"This must be the signal that we can put the other results behind us.
"We can do well now. This has to be the kick-start for us to make sure we do well in the coming games. This gives us a massive lift - eight points behind is far better than 14."
Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted Manchester United need to start scoring goals in a bid to keep in the title hunt, but feels throwing on a glut of strikers is not the way forward.
The Red Devils have slipped off the hot pace set by Arsenal and van Nistelrooy knows they need to take three points against The Gunners at the weekend.
United chief Sir Alex Ferguson has an embarrassment of attacking riches at his disposal and his side finished with Louis Saha, Alan Smith Wayne Rooney and van Nistelrooy all on the pitch in the 0-0 draw at Birmingham on Saturday.
Van Nistelrooy admits he missed a great chance on Saturday, but feels the deployment of four strikers stunts the team's creativity.
"I had a marvellous chance that I missed," said the Dutch marksman. "We had some good attempts on goal, but I don't think we created a lot outside the box.
"By throwing all the strikers on you lack a bit of balance."
Van Nistelrooy is hopeful that Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo, who looked jaded on Saturday following his international exertions, can find his form against Arsenal.
"Cristiano looked tired (against Birmingham)," added van Nistelrooy. "Cristiano didn't look anything like the player we know he is.
"Normally he would be creating something in the game but it wasn't there for him."
Commenting on United's recent record, the Dutchman said: "We have had back-to-back draws and that is not championship form. Championship form is winning games.
"This club is used to winning championships, nothing else.
"Teams can have unbeaten records, bore teams, do what they want to do, but United have always got to win championships.
RAMPANT RUUD FIRES FOUR
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