Man United start rousingly

PARIS, SEPT 23: Barcelona and Marseille maintained 100 percent records in their respective European Champions League groups yesterday whi...

PARIS, SEPT 23: Barcelona and Marseille maintained 100 percent records in their respective European Champions League groups yesterday while holders Manchester United saw the defence of their title lift off with a convincing 3-0 away win against Austria8217;s Sturm Graz.

In the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, United kicked sand in the face of the pool weaklings, who lost their opener 0-2 to Marseille last week. Keane started the ball rolling after 17 minutes. David Beckham drove a free-kick at the Sturm wall and when the ball rebounded to the United skipper 25 yards out, he cracked it home right-footed off the underside of the bar.

The second was also begun by Beckham, who swung in a corner from the right and Yorke headed home from seven yards out. Goalkeeper Kazimierz Sidorczuk was at fault and Yorke8217;s header seemed to pass under his body. Three minutes later Yorke turned provider, to play Cole in on the right.

United are still playing second fiddle to leaders Marseille in the group, who came away with asuperb 2-1 victory away to Croatia Zagreb.

The opening goal came after five minutes. Stephane Dalmat, tipped by many as a future French international, did well to find Ibrahima Bakayoko 12 yards out and the Cote D8217;Ivoire international finished clinically.

The Croats, coached by Argentinian 1978 World Cup winner Osvaldo Ardiles, then carved out a series of opportunities, but the French goal seemed to lead a charmed life with Marseille goalkeeper Stephane Porato making three fine saves and Josep Simic and Igor Biscan guilty of horrendous misses.

Eventually, substitute Tomislav Sokota conjured up an equaliser with an improvised left-foot cross-shot after 66 minutes. Marseille again went ahead with 13 minutes remaining, through former Blackburn star Sebastien Perez.

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BARCA MAGIC: Barcelona took control of Group B with their second win in a week 8212; this time in much more convincing fashion than last week8217;s 2-1 victory over Aik Solna in Stockholm.

In that match, Barca scored two goals in the lastfive minutes to snatch victory the equaliser was scored while Solna were making a substitution and that led to an unsuccessful protest to Uefa by the Swedes. But the Catalan giants were in unforgiving mood at the Nou Camp, winning 4-2 and were 2-0 up within 10 minutes against Italy8217;s Fiorentina.

The other match in the pool saw Arsenal emerge main challengers to Barcelona. The match looked certain to end in a draw, after being locked 1-1 in the second half, before Arsenal8217;s French World Cup star Thierry Henry gave his side a precious lead in injury time before adding insult to injury be setting up a third for Croatian Davor Suker.

In Group A, last season8217;s semi-finalists Dynami Kyiv are looking out for the count after a second defeat.

Results

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Pool A: Lazio 2 Paulo Negro, Marcelo Salas bt Dynami Kyiv 1 Serhii Rebrov; Bayer Leverkusen 2 Boris Zivkovic, Ulf Kirsten bt Maribor 0.

Pool B: Barcelona 4 Luis Figo, Luis Enrique, Rivaldo 2 bt Fiorentina 2 Batistuta, EnricoChiesa; Arsenal 3 Fredrik Ljungberg, Thierry Henry, Davor Suker bt Aik Solna 1 Krister Nordin.

Pool C: Borussia Dortmund 3 Andi Moller, Fredi Bobic 2 bt Boavista 1 Rui Bento; Rosenborg Trondheim, Norway 2 John Carew 2 drew Feyenoord 2 Jon Dahl Tomasson, Bonaventure Kalou

Pool D: Manchester United 3 Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole bt Sturm Graz 0; Marseille 2 Ibrahima Bakayoko, Sebastien Perez bt Zagreb 1 Tomislav Sokota.