Bayern Munich, Man U stay on course

Holders Bayern Munich missed a penalty but scored twice in the last eight minutes to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a classic Champions League quar...

Holders Bayern Munich missed a penalty but scored twice in the last eight minutes to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a classic Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday, Claudio Pizarro getting the winner in the 88th minute. Bayern’s victory kept alive the chance of a repeat of the 1999 final after Manchester United, who beat the Germans in injury time three years ago, produced a superb performance to win 2-0 in Spain against Deportivo Coruna.

United, who had lost twice to Coruna in the group stages, won thanks to a brilliant long-range effort by David Beckham and a tap-in for Ruud van Nistelrooy, the competition’s top scorer with nine goals. It was United’s first win in a European away leg in Spain in 13 attempts and their first away win in six successive Champions League quarter-finals.

However, the victory was soured by injuries to Beckham and inspirational captain Roy Keane, the Irish international captain definitely out for at least a month. Bayern had to show all their famed resilience against Real after the Spaniards, with Zinedine Zidane at his brilliant best and Argentine Santiago Solari also full of swagger, dominated the first half. Their well-deserved goal came after 12 minutes when Cameroonian Geremi squeezed a low shot past Oliver Kahn.

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But Bayern, who beat Real home and away in last year’s semi-finals, turned things round in the second half. The introduction of Bosnian Hasan Salihamidzic added pace to the home attack and he earned the penalty that Effenberg shot straight at Cesar. However, the midfielder made amends when he scored from close range in the 82nd minute and Pizarro completed the comeback when he seized on a loose ball to shoot home from the edge of the box.

Hitzfeld singled out playmaker Effenberg for particular praise for the way he came back after missing the penalty. Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque was disappointed after his side’s early dominance. Manchester United are a different team from the one which lost twice to Deportivo earlier in the season and produced one of their best European displays for years.

England captain Beckham conjured his goal out of nothing after 15 minutes, catching Jose Molina off his line with a stunning shot from 30 metres. Van Nistelrooy added the second four minutes before the break when he turned in a Mikael Silvestre cross to make it nine goals in the Champions League this season.

Deportivo, who have played some sparkling football at home and in Europe in recent weeks, found it impossible to penetrate United’s defence, superbly led by Ronny Johnsen and Laurent Blanc.

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The tie is not all over yet, however, as United will be without Keane, who damaged a hamstring, and suspended Paul Scholes for the second leg.

Beckham, flattened by a wild Diego Tristan tackle in the last minute is likely to have an X-ray on a damaged ankle on Wednesday.

(Reuters)

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