Lyon 2 Manchester United 2
Record-breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy dragged Manchester United back from the
brink of a Champions League disaster in Lyon.
In only his second appearance of the season, the brilliant Dutchman
established himself above Denis Law as the most prolific European goalscorer in
United history with a two-goal salvo that rescued a Red Devils side that seemed
to be spinning to certain defeat.
Trailing to first-half efforts from Cris and Pierre Frau, van Nistelrooy, ably
assisted by dazzling Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, dragged his team back
into the game in five stunning minutes after the interval.
First Ronaldo dug out a cross that allowed van Nistelrooy to steer a low
header past Gregory Coupet, his 29th European goal, one more than the legendary
Law.
There were no celebrations from the former PSV man just then. Instead, he
waited until Ronaldo's attempted shot had deflected into his path off Anthony
Reveillere, offering the time and space to beat Coupet for a second time.
It was not quite 'Barcelona 99' but for a side badly lacking in confidence
after a wretched start to the season, it was still a significant achievement and
one Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt hope can be carried into his side's
Premiership campaign, where they have already fallen nine points adrift of
Arsenal.
Loyalty has been always been one of the fundamental traits of Ferguson's
managerial career and the Scot has steadfastly refused to betray the men who
have consistently let him down over the past 12 months.
Tim Howard was taken out of the firing line following the monumental
last-minute error against Porto that cost United their place in last season's
competition but the American was back in the side long before United lifted the
FA Cup in Cardiff last May.
Ferguson's faith also endured his goalkeeper's blunder at Bolton on Saturday,
with the Scot quick to confirm the former Major League Soccer star would be part
of his starting line-up on Wednesday evening.
When Howard bravely rushed out to block Florent Malouda's attempt to steer
Wiltord's through-ball into the net midway through the opening period,
Ferguson's selection policy looked to be a wise one. Nine minutes from the
interval, it was exposed as pure folly.
Howard could justifiably point to the number of bodies in a crowded penalty
area as a partial excuse for his failure to collect Juninho's long-range
free-kick but, given he got a clean hold on the ball before he dropped it
straight into Cris' path, the blame was still firmly his.
It was a goal which would probably have come much earlier had Lyon not
continually over-elaborated when they got anywhere near the United box.
Rio Ferdinand would have been suspended from this game anyway without the
eight-month ban which runs out in time for him to face Liverpool on Monday but
how Ferguson must lament the England defender's lengthy absence.
United's creaky rearguard was rocking from the opening minutes, with only
Gabriel Heinze looking the part and even he was treading on thin ice after
incurring a ninth-minute booking for his clattering foul on Sidney Govou.
In addition to Malouda's saved effort, Cacapa headed narrowly wide from
Juninho's corner and Frau came close to netting Wiltord's low cross.
Badly outgunned in midfield, United mustered little in response. A poor Ryan
Giggs effort from a Roy Keane cross was the best they could manage as van
Nistelrooy's chronic lack of match fitness was highlighted by his failure to
latch onto an excellent Paul Scholes through-ball.
The second goal was therefore in no way flattering to a Lyon side, although
Ferguson might wonder why three of his players stopped immediately in front of
the dugout from which he watched unhappily, appealing in vain for a free-kick in
favour of Ronaldo as Frau finished off a lightning counter-attack by smashing
Wiltord's square pass beyond a stranded Howard.
As United trooped back down the tunnel with their heads bowed, it seemed
another sorry European evening was in store. Instead, through van Nistelrooy,
they produced one of those rousing comebacks for which they are so famous.
Even so, there should have been a sting in the tail for the visitors as Nilmar
contrived to volley wide from barely a yard with the goal at his mercy before
Juninho struck the base of a post with the last kick of the game.
But given the character they had showed to launch their second half fightback,
United deserved that bit of luck.
Teams
Lyon Coupet, Reveillere, Cris, Cacapa, Abidal,
Wiltord (Clement 88), Essien, Juninho, Malouda,
Govou (Ben Arfa 75), Frau (Nilmar 65).
Subs Not Used: Puydebois, Diatta, Bergougnoux, Berthod.
Booked: Cris.
Goals: Cris 35, Frau 44.
Man Utd Howard, O'Shea (Phil Neville 83), Brown, Silvestre,
Heinze, Ronaldo, Keane, Djemba-Djemba, Giggs, Scholes,
van Nistelrooy (Smith 79).
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Bellion, Kleberson, Richardson,
Fletcher.
Booked: Heinze.
Goals: van Nistelrooy 56, 61.
Att: 40,000
Ref: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).
