A pleasurable outcome
Man U, Bayern advance to quarterfinals with 1-1 draw
Posted: Wednesday December 09, 1998 05:18 PM
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Hasan Salihamidzic (right) leveled for Bayern Munich in the 55th minute Shaun Botterill/Allsport |
MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Manchester United and Bayern Munich
cruised into the quarterfinals of the Champions League on
Wednesday after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Irish midfielder Roy Keane fired United into the lead two
minutes before half time and Bosnian forward Hasan Salihamidzic
leveled for Bayern in the 55th minute.
The result means that Bayern qualifies for the last eight by
finishing top of Group D and United gained its place by being one
of the best two runners up.
Playing at Old Trafford for the first time in its history,
Bayern almost fell behind in the sixth minute when David Beckham
set up a chance with a superb long pass to Ryan Giggs. Andy Cole
took possession and his shot was blocked by a defender's leg and
Dwight Yorke's follow-up drive shaved the crossbar.
But Giovane Elber almost gave the German team the lead in the
16th minute, his diving header from Bixente Lizarazu's left wing
cross flashing wide of the post.
Cole fired inches wide in the 25th minute after a good touch on
by Giggs and then Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn did well to save a
20-yard shot from the Reds' striker.
But United went ahead in the 43rd minute.
Giggs pulled a pass from almost by the left corner flag into a
big space on the edge of the Bayern area and Keane drove a low,
hard shot between Kahn and his right hand post.
Norwegian defender Ronny Johnsen should have made it 2-0 in the
opening minute of the second half when he completely missed the
ball in front of goal when Keane played Beckham's corner into his
path.
United's Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel produced a brilliant
acrobatic save to keep out a well-struck drive by Sammy Kuffour in
the 54th minute and preserve his team's lead.
But Bayern leveled a minute later when Thomas Strunz headed on a
right wing corner and Bosnian forward Hasan Salihamidzic forced the
ball over the line from barely two yards out.
Bayern almost went ahead in the 58th minute when Elber stuck out
a foot and prodded the ball over the top with only Schmeichel to
beat. At the other end Paul Scholes had a shot deflected wide and
Kahn made a good save from Dwight Yorke's overhead shot.
A glancing header from Cole went wide and Scholes fired too high
as United threatened to gain the lead. From then on, both teams created chances even
though, with the score at 1-1, they were both headed for the
quarterfinal.
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