By Jonathan Stevenson.
Manchester United came from behind at Old Trafford to beat an impressive Wolfsburg side and take command of Group B in the Champions League.
The Germans played their part in a lively game and went ahead when Edin Dzeko headed in Makoto Hasebe's cross.
But United hit back immediately, Ryan Giggs scoring his 150th goal for the club as his free-kick was deflected in.
Wayne Rooney fired narrowly over before Michael Carrick kept his cool to curl in the winner from the edge of the box.
It was what United deserved for a powerful display against very capable opponents, with victory sending them three points clear at the top of their group.
But they did not have it all their own way and had to match Wolfsburg's powerful physical threat before their superior quality could show.
In the build-up to the game, the Bundesliga champions had vowed to attack, coach Armin Veh promising they would not wait until they fell behind to impose their style on the game.
And he was true to his word as the visitors almost got off to a flier, Nemanja Vidic's lazy header seized upon by Grafite and Christian Gentner firing at keeper Tomasz Kuszczak when he should have done better.
Zvjezdan Misimovic was pulling the strings for Wolfsburg, Grafite was proving more than a match for both Vidic and Rio Ferdinand and the Germans looked dangerous.
Dzeko fired wide from long range after another defensive lapse, but soon after there was a turning point at the other end as Michael Owen - in front of the watching England manager Fabio Capello - limped off after 20 minutes with a groin injury.
His replacement, Dimitar Berbatov, had a dramatic impact on proceedings, immediately enlivening United with his clever touches and visionary passing.
One audacious backheel sent Luis Valencia through, but the Ecuadorian dragged badly wide of the far post, before Berbatov sublimely slipped in Carrick only for Diego Benaglio to save his shot with his outstretched right foot.
It was all United and they continued their assault on the Wolfsburg goal after the break as Rooney teed up Anderson, the Brazilian's curling shot brilliantly parried away by Benaglio.
Edin Dzeko celebrates putting Wolfsburg ahead
Dzeko's thumping header put Wolfsburg in front after the break
To their credit Wolfsburg never stopped attacking, and with 56 minutes on the clock they stunned Old Trafford by taking the lead as Hasebe clipped in a cross for the towering Dzeko to thump in a header.
Far from panicking, United continued to press and it took them only three minutes to equalise, albeit in fortuitous circumstances.
Anderson was brought down 20 yards out and Giggs' free-kick took a wicked deflection off Gentner, completely wrongfooting Benaglio and bouncing into the far corner.
United sensed a chance to compound Wolfsburg's frustration and Rooney almost delivered, curling a right-foot cracker only inches over from the edge of the box.
Instead they had to wait until 12 minutes from time, Giggs laying the ball off to Carrick for the midfielder to calmly slot past Benaglio from the edge of the area.
Wolfsburg continued to plough forward as they had done all night, but their search for an equaliser ended in vain.