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Forlan fires United to Rangers win
MANCHESTER, England -- Diego Forlan's brilliant sixth minute volley set Manchester United on course for a 3-0 win over Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers at Old Trafford in Champions League Group E. The Uruguayan forward struck with a dipping right foot shot on the turn that flashed across Rangers keeper Stefan Klos. Ruud van Nistelrooy broke his recent scoring drought with goals on either side of halftime. But German side Stuttgart stayed ahead of United at the top of the group, beating Panathinaikos 3-1 in Greece. United's victory, completing the double over their British rivals following their 1-0 win in Glasgow last month, never looked in doubt following Forlan's fourth goal in four games. Forlan also did the hard work for van Nistelrooy's first goal on 43 minutes, slamming a shot against the crossbar that bounced straight into the net off the Dutchman's knee. "Diego is thriving on games. That's his fourth in a row," United coach Sir Alex Ferguson said. "It was an instinctive hit of the ball. If you score every week, you're giving the manager a problem, how do you leave him out? He will play at Liverpool on Sunday." Van Nistelrooy knew more about his second goal, steering in Ryan Gigg's freekick for his 11th goal of the season and his 33rd career goal in the Champions League. "We were well beaten by a really, really top side," said Rangers coach Alex McLeish. "You've got to hand it to Forlan, it was a magnificent strike, brilliant finish, and Ruud van Nistelrooy does so well, he is in on every single rebound. It's a lesson to every striker in the world." German Bundesliga leaders Stuttgart fell behind in Athens when Michalis Konstantinou drove home a shot from the edge of the box on 59 minutes. But Kevin Kuranyi pulled them back into the match on 67 minutes when his loose ball across the penalty area was turned in by Panathinaikos defender Takis Fyssas for an own goal. Eight minutes later, Kuranyi struck again, claiming the goal himself this time with an unstoppable drive from outside the box. Andreas Hinkel made the game safe two minutes later, cutting through the Greek defense and finishing from close range. "Now we have nine points and most probably we will go on to take at least second place," Stuttgart coach Felix Magath said. "After going 1-0 behind we showed our real selves and won the match easily." Stuttgart and Manchester now have nine points each and can both qualify for the knockout stages in the next round of matches on November 26. Stuttgart face Rangers while United go to Panathinaikos.
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