And the home side almost made an explosive start but Fabianski stopped a cracking 30-yard half volley from Edwards.
Centre-back Antar Yahia settled the contest with a stunning first-half volley at an angle eight yards out from Karim Ziani's punt into the box.
From the resulting corner the ball dropped to Johnson on the edge of the box but his half volley was well held by Neuer.
The Reds, buoyed by scoring, came close to adding another when Luis Suarez's low half volley had to be palmed away by the Sunderland keeper.
In a frantic period midway through the second half five goals were scored in 26 minutes, and Rapinoe hit a stunning half volley from the corner of the penalty area to level the match at 2-2 with 20 minutes to go.
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.
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