By NEIL CUSTIS
HOT Robin Van Persie is the goal machine that keeps on delivering.
He turned supersub last night, coming on to inspire yet another United comeback that puts them in the knockout stages of the Champions League with two games to spare.
The Dutch striker banged in his 11th goal for the club in just 14 appearances after 80 minutes, to drag United level after Alan had given Braga a 49th-minute lead.
Five minutes later, Wayne Rooney put United ahead from the spot after he had been brought down.
And the comeback was complete when Javier Hernandez scored from close range in injury-time.
It was an incredible final 10 minutes, given that United had been so poor in the previous 80. But you can never write them off.
This was the third time in four of these Group H games that they have come from behind to win.
Twice they have done it against Braga, who on both occasions were ahead and dominating until United turned on the style.
They were 2-0 up at Old Trafford until United hit back to win 3-2.
Last night they lead and could have been further in front until Van Persie came on to turn the tide.
By the time the third goal went in manager Alex Ferguson, celebrating 26 years in charge of United this week, could hardly keep the smile off his face.
But this is what his teams do. This is how they won it in 1999.
Never giving in, no matter how poorly they might be playing. It is simply in the DNA of Ferguson’s teams to believe.
That is why they are in the next round with two games to spare, which will allow the boss to rest some of his first-choice players for the games away to Galatasaray and at home to Cluj. Braga must be wondering how on earth they left their Estadio Municipal last night on the end of such a scoreline.
They had the best of an awful first half and took a deserved lead four minutes after the break.
Rooney lost possession and Alan made him pay.
The midfielder found Custodio and he was body checked by Jonny Evans just inside the area, right in front of German ref Felix Brych who immediately pointed to the spot.
There was no complaints from the United players as Alan put the ball down and then whacked an unstoppable shot past David De Gea into the top left-hand corner.
Subdued United needed a spark from somewhere and Antonio Valencia, starting at right-back, tried to provide it. He went charging down the flank and put over a dangerous cross. Braga keeper Beto came off his line to try and punch it clear but failed to reach the ball.
It fell to Danny Welbeck at the far post but he controlled it with his arm and the referee blew up. Both sides were left in the dark at one point when half the floodlights went, leading to a 10-minute break.
The restart saw Rooney racing all over the pitch trying to get on the ball and make something happen but all to no avail.
In fact, Braga almost increased their lead from a free-kick on 61 minutes.
Anderson’s high arm had caught Micael in the face five yards outside the United area. Nuno Andre took the free-kick, curling a shot over the wall and forcing De Gea into a full-length save.
Micael latched on to the loose ball and fired in a cross-shot but sub Rio Ferdinand hacked it clear.
Ferguson needed to try something to stem the tide and turned to his talisman Van Persie, bringing him on for Welbeck on 64 minutes.
And with 10 minutes remaining, the brilliant Dutchman turned the game on its head.
Ryan Giggs spotted his run from inside his own half and delivered a fantastic through-ball.
Keeper Beto was in no-man’s-land way off his line and the Dutchman lobbed a shot beyond him. The United hero continued on his run to the corner of the ground where the travelling faithful were gathered to take their acclaim.
Five minutes later they were celebrating again as United went ahead from the spot.
Another great pass from Giggs this time found Hernandez whose shot was smothered by Beto.
Rooney was on to the loose ball in a flash but was brought down by a sliding challenge from Nuno Andre.
It took an age for the official behind the goal to finally indicate to the referee that it was indeed a penalty.
The pressure was on Rooney, who missed from the spot in United’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the weekend.
That was United’s fourth miss in six attempts this season, prompting Fergie to threaten he would start taking them himself.
Against Arsenal, Rooney tried a precise sidefoot into the bottom corner that went the wrong side of a post. This time he whacked it. almost bursting the net.
In the second minute of injury-time buoyant United added a third goal.
Valencia raced down the right and crossed for Rooney, who flicked the ball on to Hernandez.
He wriggled round two men and shot as he fell.
His effort was blocked on the line but came back to him and the little Mexican managed to scoop it home while lying on the floor, Comeback and qualification for the next round complete. Incredible.
