By Pete Oliver

MANCHESTER, England, Sept 13 (England) - Manchester United won a pulsating British derby when they came from behind to beat Celtic 3-2 in their opening Group F match at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

United equalled their goal tally for all of last season's group games as they came from behind to beat Celtic, who were backed by 6,500 travelling supporters.

Celtic stunned United by going ahead through Dutch international striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink after 21 minutes.

However, Louis Saha levelled from the penalty spot after 29 minutes when goalkeeper Artur Boruc clattered into Ryan Giggs.

Saha made it 2-1 to United after 40 minutes before Japanese midfielder Shunsake Nakamura equalised with a free-kick two minutes before the break.

United clinched victory through substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 47th-minute goal which ultimately proved to be the decider in a superb match between the two clubs who have strong close links but have never previously met in a competitive fixture.

FIVE WINS

The victory maintained United's perfect start to the season with five wins from five matches in both the Premier League and now the Champions League.

It also followed an admission by United manager Alex Ferguson that United's poor record in the competition last season and their desire to improve had made him apprehensive -- and those nerves appeared to spread to his side's defence.

England international Rio Ferdinand looked decidedly uncertain when he was beaten to a long clearance from goalkeeper Boruc by Vennegoor of Hesselink, the former PSV Eindhoven forward raced away to drive a powerful low, left-footed shot past countryman Edwin van der Sar to claim his third goal in as many games for his new club.

United had allowed record European goalscorer Ruud Van Nistelrooy to leave in the summer but Ferguson's faith in Louis Saha was justified as the France international then turned the game United's way.

Helped by a debatable penalty decision for a foul by Boruc on Giggs to get his first goal after half-an-hour, Saha struck again ten minutes later when he slid home a perfect pass from the outstanding Paul Scholes.

Any thoughts that United would then stroll to victory were dismissed by Nakamura's superb strike but again Celtic could not hold onto the initiative for long as Solskjaer followed up a Saha effort to tap in his first European goal for three years.

WARNING MESSAGE

With United, who boast a 100 per cent record so far this season, growing in confidence they could have added to their tally to send out a warning to the rest of the group, despite the continued threat of Celtic on the break.

Saha twice went close to scoring as many as five goals, while Boruc also saved well from Wayne Rooney, who looked a little rusty following a three-match domestic ban but got 86 minutes under his belt ahead of Sunday's premier league meeting with fierce rivals Arsenal.