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Lille draws Man Utd ends Olympiakos home streak 2-0
Updated: Thursday October 11, 2001 5:25 AM
ATHENS (Reuters) -- Manchester United beat Olympiakos Piraeus 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, ending the Greek side's 14-match unbeaten home record in Europe. A goal from Greek scourge David Beckham in the 65th minute and a close-range strike from Andy Cole with nine minutes left were just reward for an accomplished second-half performance from United, who climbed to the top of the Group G standings. The English champions have six points from three games, a point ahead of Deportivo Coruna, who drew 1-1 at Lille. Olympiakos, roared on by a crowd of 74,000 for the first 45 minutes but outclassed after the break, are bottom with one point, three adrift of third-placed Lille. Manchester United dominated early possession with a neat series of interchanges orchestrated by Argentine midfielder Juan Veron. But the hosts worked their way slowly back into the game, threatening from a series of set pieces and creating the better chances. Stelios Giannakopoulos came within inches of opening the scoring, steering his header from a Stelios Venetidis free kick just wide of the post. Ten minutes later, Predrag Djordjevic flighted a Beckham-style free kick narrowly over the crossbar as the visitors' defense looked shaky. A third dead ball delivery, this time from Par Zetterberg, found the late breaking Giannakopoulos, who drew a stunning point-blank save from Fabien Barthez. United replied through Veron, who profited from good work in the area by Ryan Giggs, but the former Lazio man skewed his left-foot effort wide. After the break, the home crowd went silent as David Beckham placed the ball for his first free kick of the night, but the England captain failed to re-produce his stunning effort in Saturday's international as the ball landed gently in the arms of Eleftheropoulos. With Veron once more pulling the strings, the home side were pinned back in their own half as United's slick passing threatened to undo them. Beckham was inevitably the man to break the deadlock from close range after a lobbed cross from Giggs had split the Greek defense. United could have tripled their lead within minutes as three chances came and went for Ruud Van Nistelrooy in quick succession. The Dutch striker hit the post with a right-foot effort in the 71st minute as the visitors ran riot. Cole claimed the second goal shortly after coming on as substitute, playing a neat one-two with Van Nistelrooy before finishing calmly from close range. The England forward's strike made him the highest scoring Englishman in European competition, his 23rd goal edging him one ahead of former Manchester United captain Bobby Charlton and ex-Tottenham striker Martin Chivers. Slick passing game Alex Ferguson saluted his side's slick passing game. "It was a good performance and we exerted a lot of control at key points in the game," he said. "We played a very good passing game, we played with great patience and perseverance and we wore them out. "It was a good first half where both teams contributed and they gave us problems from set pieces but our defence showed up well and looked strong." Ferguson paid special tribute to David Beckham's appetite, after the England captain played the full 90 minutes producing another goalscoring performance. "I talked to him in the morning and he said that he wanted to play so I put him in," said Ferguson, playing down earlier hints that he might rest the midfielder. Beckham, who scored the last minute equalizer against Greece on Saturday that sent England to the World Cup, got things moving Wednesday after 66 minutes. "He (Ferguson) knew it was a hard game on Saturday for me so he had to think about it but I think once I'd talked to him and said 'it's a big game, I want to play in it,' I think that was all he needed to hear," said Beckham. Ferguson admitted that United were now in a good position in the group with six points from three games. "The result in France was good for us (Lille drew 1-1 with Deportivo Coruna). We have three games left and two of those at home. "We have to make sure we keep our home form as consistent as it has been in recent years," he added. Olympiakos coach Takis Lemonis refused to rule out his side's chances despite the loss of its unbeaten home record in the competition after 14 matches. "There are three games left and we should, under no circumstances believe that anything is lost," he said. "There are a lot of scenarios still possible. "We played an almost perfect first half but we failed to convert the chances that we created and after the break they managed to profit from this." Last-gasp draw keeps Lille in contentionLENS, France -- A late equalizer by substitute Adekanmi Olufade allowed Lille to snatch a 1-1 draw at home against Deportivo Coruna in Champions League Group G on Wednesday. Juan Carlos Valeron outpaced the French side's defense to open the scoring in the 49th minute and Deportivo looked set for a reasonably comfortable win. But Lille, who struggled for most of the match, gave it their all in the last 10 minutes and were rewarded when Togo international Olufade netted in after an neat interchange of passes with Dagui Bakari in the 86th minute. Deportivo were replaced by Manchester United at the top of the group. The English champions have six points with Deportivo second on five and Lille third on four. Lille made life difficult for the Spaniards and fought until the final whistle. Deportivo played defensively in the last 15 minutes to keep their slim lead, an option which cost them dearly. "By leveling the scoring, we did what we had to do,' said Lille captain Pascal Cygan. "They're exceptional players and a very strong team. "Now, before thinking of qualifying we'll try to finish third in the group. To go further would mean winning away, which won't be easy,' he added. Deportivo's Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet said his team deserved to win. "We missed too many chances and it's too bad because sincerely, with the three points, we would have qualified already," he said. SummariesOlympiakos Piraeus 0 Manchester United 2 - result Scorers: David Beckham 66, Andy Cole 82 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 71,500 Teams: Olympiakos: 31-Dimitris Eleftheropoulos; 2-Christos Patsatzoglou, 32-Giorgos Anatolakis, 33-Stelios Venetidis, 7-Stelios Giannakopoulos, 8-Christian Karembeu, 4-Jorge Bermudez, 20-Par Zetterberg (21-Andreas Niniadis 66), 11-Predrag Djordjevic (30-Alexios Alexandris 81), 19-Thanassis Kostoulas (17-Peter Oforiquaye 70), 10-Giovanni Manchester United: 1-Fabien Barthez; 2-Gary Neville, 5-Ronny Johnsen, 6-Laurent Blanc, 3-Denis Irwin, 7-David Beckham, 4-Juan Veron (9-Andy Cole 80), 16-Roy Keane, 11-Ryan Giggs, 18-Paul Scholes, 10-Ruud van Nistelrooy (20-Ole Gunnar Solksjaer 85) Referee: Graziano Cesari (Italy). Lille 1 Deportivo Coruna 1 - result Scorers: Lille - Adekanmi Olufade 86 Deportivo Coruna - Juan Carlos Valeron 49 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 40,000 Teams: Lille: 1-Gregory Wimbee; 21-Johnny Ecker, 3-Pascal Cygan (cap), 4-Abdelilah Fahmi, 18-Stephane Pichot; 28-Bruno Cheyrou (7-Edwin Murati 77), 27-Fernando D'Amico, 25-Sylvain N'Diaye, 24-Christophe Landrin (12-Salahedine Bassir 60); 19-Mile Sterjovski (14-Adekanmi Olufade 75), 10-Dagui Bakari. Deportivo Coruna: 1-Jose Molina; 3-Enrique Romero, 20-Donato (cap), 4-Nourredine Naybet, 24-Hector; 14-Emerson, 17-Walter Pandiani, 18-Victor (12-Lionel Scaloni 71), 23-Aldo Duscher; 10-Fran (11-Jose Amavisca 65), 21-Juan Carlos Valeron (16-Sergio 78). Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark)
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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