The 38-year-old Nikopolidis was beaten only once, but Cesc Fabregas' half-volley thundered back off the crossbar.
"It was good to get a goal, I caught it sweet on the half-volley, " said Gow.
Veteran winger Pires restored Villa's lead with a sweet half-volley before Nathan Delfouneso's header made it 3-1.
Wayne Rooney doubled the lead after 87 minutes, cracking in an Anderson cross with an exquisite half-volley.
Zamora cushioned Paul Konchesky's cross into the path of Gera, but the Hungarian's half-volley bounced over the bar.
Lyon were a different side after the break, with several chances before Miralem Pjanic fizzed in a half-volley.
United began the second half in ominous mood with Ryan Giggs striking the crossbar with a well-executed half-volley.
Moments later, Jamie Murphy aimed for goal with a half-volley from a Motherwell throw-in, but the ball inched wide.
He cut back a cross for Marcus Stewart, who unleashed a half-volley which United skipper Robert Page superbly blocked.
And the veteran ex-Celtic keeper made a first class save to stop Hartson's close range half-volley as Celtic poured forward.
In the same over, he clipped a half-volley through mid-wicket for three to record his third Test century in four matches.
Paul Hartley fired the home side into the lead seconds before the half-time interval with an accurate half-volley past Graeme Smith.
At the other end James did brilliantly to keep out Tudgay's half-volley and acrobatically tipped over a header from the same player.
Andre Santos chested down a ball and his half-volley was saved, while Kaka cut inside and curled an 18-yard shot just wide.
Murphy saw a half-volley well-saved before Frei stepped inside Stephen Kelly but a poor touch enabled Mark Schwarzer to foil the Swiss striker.
Collins missed his header to clear Mikael Lustig's cross and Tobias Hysen's half-volley on the edge of the box was saved well by Hennessey.
Pernis produced a fine stop of his own to turn a Keith Lasley half-volley from the edge of the penalty box over the crossbar.
Brett Lee responded to Rahul Dravid's nonchalant straight push for four by removing the batsman when a leg-stump half-volley was lifted invitingly towards short midwicket.
The Hatters opened the scoring when Scott Howells fired home a half-volley from outside the area and Kevin Gallen soon doubled their lead from 18 yards.
Prominent in many of those eye-catching moves was Reyes, who almost gave Arsenal a second-minute lead when he rattled the crossbar with a wonderful left-footed half-volley.
That first chance fell captain Bellamy who raced in at the far post to meet Sam Ricketts' ball from the right, only to scuff his attempted half-volley.
Young had a half-volley saved by Edwin van der Sar and Downing saw a shot deflected narrowly wide off Ferdinand as the home side sensed United's fragility.
The Germany Under-21 international controlled a Barnetta's left-wing corner and lashed a powerful half-volley into the bottom-right corner of the net from the edge of the box.
This sparked Roma into life and Bjorn Helge Riise's brother, John Arne, forced a fine save from Schwarzer with a half-volley from the edge of the area.
Brazil forward Robinho then tested keeper Buffon with a low drive from 20-yards while at the other end Mauro Camoranesi struck a half-volley just over the bar.
Two goals in the space of five first-half minutes put the U's in charge, Matt Green firing them in front from 18 yards with a neat half-volley.
The hosts took the lead on 35 minutes when defender Landry Mulemo slipped on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Nasri to lash home a half-volley.
Amr Zaki, the hero of Egypt's semi-final victory over Senegal, came closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts in the 34th minute with a neatly struck half-volley.
The Irishman looked certain to score as he met the ball on the half-volley just three yards out but somehow skewed the ball across the face of goal.
Rams keeper Bywater made a hash of his clearance, punching the ball back towards the unmarked Best, who controlled it with his chest before slotting home on the half-volley.
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