Champions League Group C wrap: Top two draw, Bursaspor earns first point

Manchester United snatched top spot from Valencia on Anderson’s tying goal, while Bursaspor held Rangers to a 1-1 draw in Group C on Tuesday.

While United and Valencia were already assured of advancing to the Champions League’s knockout stages, their clash at Old Trafford would decide which club finished on top of Group C.

After going down 1-0 in their home leg, the Spaniards needed victory by any score to ensure they would avoid the trickier opponents in the next round.

United, meanwhile, needed to draw or tie the match in order to sidestep the likes of European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Sir Alex Ferguson sprung a surprise when he decided to hand 20-year-old goalkeeper Ben Amos a start in place of the benched Tomasz Kuszczak, with Edwin van der Sar rested.

Amos was called into action early by Valencia, who started brightly and took a deserved lead in the 32nd minute courtesy of a dreadful error by United midfielder Michael Carrick.

Carrick, under the most minimal of pressure in United’s half, half-heartedly prodded a back pass that was easily intercepted by Alejandro Dominguez.

Dominguez burst forward, reached the area and slid a low ball across goal to Pablo Hernandez, who side-footed between Amos’ legs for a 1-0 lead.

United pressed for an equaliser but were wasteful in front of goal, with Wayne Rooney hitting the crossbar and Dimitar Berbatov heading wide to begin the second half.

Berbatov eventually found the net but had his goal disallowed for offside, much to the Bulgaria international’s dismay.

But Anderson brought Old Trafford to its feet in the 62nd minute with a tying goal from close-range.

The Brazilian midfielder one-timed a loose ball past Vicente Guaita after the Valencia stopper could only parry Ji-Sung Parks’ long-range effort into space.

Valencia surged for a winner in the dying stages but Manchester United were stoic in defence, gratefully collecting a point and with it the coveted top spot.

Meanwhile, Turkish champions Bursaspor signed off on their European campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Rangers.

Scotland international striker Kenny Miller put Rangers ahead in the 20th minute on Steven Whittaker’s good work.

Whittaker ran hard down the left wing and crossed into the box and Miller was the first to react, doubling back and unleashing an unstoppable volley that cannoned under the bar.

But Bursaspor were determined to end their Champions League campaign on a better note after five straight losses, and eventually grabbed an equaliser through Turkey international Sercan Yildirim.

After beating both Whittaker and David Weir in a scramble for a crossed ball inside the area, Yildirim turned and prodded home from the edge of the six-yard box.

‘Gers goalkeeper Allan McGregor got a hand to the ball but could not parry it away, allowing Bursa to take their first point from the group stages and a measure of pride back to the Super Lig.

Manchester United finish the group stages with 14 points, while Valencia’s 11 points were enough for second.

Rangers, who were already guaranteed a Europa League berth, took six points from as many fixtures.