Ited score 2 late win 2-1 at Juventus
United struggling to carve out clear-cut scoring opportunities, but Mata hit a free kick into the top left corner in the 86th minute and that seemed to inspire Jose Mourinho's side.
Minutes later, Marouane Fellaini flicked on a free kick and the ball ricocheted around near the far post before going in off Juventus defender Alex Sandro.
Mourinho then drew the ire of Juventus players as he cupped his ear to crowd after the final whistle.
Sterling earns farcical penalty, Man City wins 6-0 in CL
Raheem Sterling went from the farcical to the sublime in helping Manchester City to a 6-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk and the brink of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stage on Wednesday.
The England winger provided the main talking point in another convincing victory for City when he stubbed his toe in the turf as he attempted a shot in the 24th minute and toppled over.
Referee Viktor Kassai awarded a penalty despite there being no contact with a defender — much to the amazement of Shakhtar's players, some of whom even laughed at the decision — and Gabriel Jesus converted the spot kick for 2-0 and the first of his three goals on the night.
"We don't like to score a goal in that situation," City manager Pep Guardiola said. "It was really clear."
Sterling showed much more poise in scoring City's third goal, by picking up the ball 40 meters out, powering through two would-be tacklers and curling a fierce shot into the top corner from the edge of the area in the 48th. It was the run and finish of a man in form, with Sterling having scored twice in the Premier League this past weekend as well.
Jesus made it 4-0 in the 72nd, again from the penalty spot after David Silva was tripped by Taras Stepanenko, before Riyad Mahrez and Jesus — with a goal that completed his hat trick — wrapped up the scoring. Silva had put City 1-0 ahead with a close-range finish in the 13th.
City stayed in first place in Group F, but moved three points ahead of Lyon after the French club drew 2-2 against Hoffenheim.
The English champions need one more point from their last two games to be certain of a toptwo finish.
After City's latest attacking masterclass, it was the penalty decision — given by a referee who has officiated in a Champions League final and in World Cups — that will best be remembered. It led to Sterling trending worldwide on social media.
It was so obvious that Sterling tripped himself over, rather than being fouled by chasing Shakhtar defender Mykola Matvyenko, that Guardiola covered his face with his hands after the incident before wagging his finger toward his own bench, indicating the penalty should not have been awarded. Sergio Aguero, a substitute sitting just in front of Guardiola, had a smile on his face.
The official behind the goal — used in UEFA-run competitions instead of a video assistant referee — appeared to have a good view of the trip but somehow didn't spot it.
"The referees, I said a long time ago, must be helped," Guardiola said. "They want to make a good performance, they don't want to make mistakes. But today the game is quick, fast; the players are more skilled.
"It takes three seconds, four seconds, 10 seconds, for someone involved to say it's no penalty, carry on."
Sterling looked slightly sheepish as he walked away from the spot where he fell, and didn't tell the referee there had been no contact from an opponent.
Asked if Sterling could have owned up, Guardiola said "he could do that, yes" before pointing to a goal City had wrongly disallowed in the second leg of last season's quarterfinal against Liverpool.
City has scored 23 goals in its last six games in all competitions, heading into a derby against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
Bayern beats AEK Athens 2-0 to move closer to knockout stage
Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Bayern Munich to beat AEK Athens 2-0 on Wednesday and move even closer to the Champions League knockout stage.
The Polish striker opened the scoring with a penalty in the first half and sealed the win in the second after a Bayern corner.
"We knew it wouldn't be easy but we've taken a good step forward," said Lewandowski, who was already looking ahead to Saturday's game at Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund.
"We had the game in control for the decisive moments. So a win is good for confidence."
The home side had struggled to create any chances of note until Serbian defender Uros Cosic was penalized for pulling Lewandowski back before the half-hour mark, and Lewandowski scored from the spot.
Bayern dominated possession and Lewandowski grabbed his fourth Champions League goal of the season after a corner from Joshua Kimmich with just under 20 minutes remaining.
With 10 points from four games, Bayern is top of Group E.
"We deserved to win, I'm satisfied with the result," said Bayern coach Niko Kovac, who is under pressure after a series of lackluster results. "There were no fireworks, but we have 10 points, it looks good."
Ajax, which drew at Benfica 1-1 in the other group game on Wednesday, is second on eight points with two games remaining, followed by Benfica on four. AEK is last after four defeats.
Ajax holds Benfica to 1-1 draw in Champions League
Dusan Tadic scored a secondhalf equalizer as Ajax held Benfica to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday, keeping a comfortable fourpoint cushion to the Portuguese side in Group E.
Ajax is two points behind Bayern Munich, which defeated AEK Athens at home to stay atop the group after four matches.
Benfica took the lead with a goal by forward Jonas in the 29th minute, but Tadic equalized in the 61st after getting past the goalkeeper and sending the ball into the net from a tough angle.