'We fought for the win, we couldn't have done more than we have done'
VfL Wolfsburg reached the Champions League last 16 and dealt a knockout blow to Manchester United with a 3-2 victory to claim top spot in Group B and condemn their opponents to the Europa League on Tuesday.
In a dramatic end to a pulsating encounter in Germany, United were set to reach the next round when an own goal by Josuha Guilavogui levelled the scores at 2-2 with eight minutes left.
But Wolfsburg's Brazilian centre back Naldo headed his second of the night, after cancelling out Anthony Martial's opener for United, to leave the visitors needing PSV Eindhoven to lose at home to CSKA Moscow in the group's other game.
For a brief moment late in the second half it looked like United would get their wish, but PSV rallied to level and then snatch a late 2-1 win that left them second in the standings on 10 points, two ahead of United and two behind Wolfsburg.
The result was an added blow for United's Dutch manager Louis van Gaal, who has had to fend off heavy criticism for his team's perceived negative approach throughout the season.
"We fought for the win, we couldn't have done more than we have done," Van Gaal told BT Sport. "I'm very disappointed. This is the league (where) we want to show our qualities and we cannot do that anymore."
United had taken the lead through Martial after an incisive break led by Juan Mata.
The Spanish playmaker was allowed space to turn in midfield and produced a superb defence-splitting pass to find the Frenchman racing through on goal. Martial took a touch, opened his body up and slotted into the corner.
The Germans counter-punched almost immediately, however.
Ricardo Rodriguez whipped a free kick into the area and Naldo swung his right boot at the ball to direct a pinpoint low volley past United keeper David De Gea.
Wolfsburg went in front with the game's standout goal after 28 minutes when Portuguese Vieirinha put the finishing touch to an astonishing team move, orchestrated by Julian Draxler.
The Germany winger beat two defenders with a drop of the shoulder and a burst of pace before exchanging a quick one-two with Max Kruse and then unselfishly squaring for Vieirinha to sweep home.
United had a goal ruled out at the end of the first half when Jesse Lingard bent a curling shot into the net past keeper Diego Benaglio around the back of Mata.
The Spaniard, however, was offside and deemed to be interfering with play despite not touching the ball.
After both keepers showcased their abilities early in the second half, the match took two dramatic turns late on.
United levelled when Wolfsburg's Guilavogui deflected a tame header from Marouane Fellaini over Benaglio to put the visitors on track to qualify with PSV then drawing against CSKA.
But Naldo's late header, combined with another goal in Eindhoven, turned the scenario on its head and left United to drop into the second-tier Europa League competition.
Birthday boy Sterling helps Man City finish top of Group D
Raheem Sterling celebrated his 21st birthday with two goals as Manchester City scored three times in the last 10 minutes to sink Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-2 and finish top of Champions League Group D on Tuesday.
City, without several first-team regulars including captain Vincent Kompany and striker Sergio Aguero, took the lead in the 16th minute when Sterling fed David Silva with a clever backheel in the box and the Spain playmaker drove home a bullet shot.
Gladbach, in confident mood after inflicting Bayern Munich's first Bundesliga defeat of the season at the weekend, then took command with their slick-passing style and were 2-1 up by halftime.
Julian Korb equalised with a right-foot shot in the 19th minute, after a surging run from Fabian Johnson, before Brazilian Raffael scrambled the ball home from close range in the 42nd following another neat passing move.
City, who had never finished top of a Champions League group before, perked up after the break and it was no surprise when Sterling converted from close range after overlapping right back Gael Clichy pulled the ball back from the byline in the 80th minute.
A minute later substitute Wilfried Bony set Sterling up and the former Liverpool forward provided a delightful curling effort from 16 metres.
Bony made it 4-2 from a left-wing cross by Aleksandar Kolarov in the 85th minute as City, who had already clinched their place in the knockout stages, ended the group stage with 12 points from six games.
Juventus, beaten 1-0 at Sevilla on Tuesday, also qualified for the Champions League last 16 on 11 points.
Europa League holders Sevilla ended up with six points and again go into Europe's second-tier club competition after finishing in third place. Gladbach were bottom of the group with five points.
