Manchester United rode their luck in Germany to beat Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League group F match tonight, however, Newcastle United were less fortunate as they slumped to their second defeat in this season's competition at home to Feyenoord.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's first half double should have allowed Alex Ferguson's team to stroll home and exact maximum revenge for their heartbreaking semi-final exit to Leverkusen last season. Instead, they were subjected to a second half pummelling which they only survived when Thomas Brdaric's late header rebounded off the inside of a post with Fabien Barthez beaten.
Juan Sebastian Veron was the provider of Van Nistelrooy's first goal in the 31st-minute. The Dutchman nipped in behind a sleepy Leverkusen defence, calmly brought the ball down on his chest and despatched a first-time shot into the opposite corner. More poor Bayer defending was exposed by Ryan Giggs, who found Butt in acres of room inside the box. The England midfielder squared the ball to van Nistelrooy who successfully executed a simple tap-in to overtake Denis Law's European Cup goalscroing record for United.
Van Nistelrooy was replaced by Diego Forlan after he suffered a hamstring tweak, which did not appear to be serious. However, John O'Shea's problem was slightly more serious. The Irishman had apparently recovered from an unintentional aerial clash with Phil Neville but as half-time arrived, reported double vision and was immediately replaced by Gary Neville.
After the break, Leverkusen emerged looking like a different side. Within six minutes of the restart, substitute Dimitar Berbatov despatched a shot into the corner after Yildiray Basturk found him in space 10 yards out. German international Bernd Schneider was dominating proceedings in midfield as United retreated deeper into their own half, allowing the Germans to apply the pressure.
Balitsch and Brdaric should have equalised for Leverkusen, the latter going closest when his flicked 10-yard header hit the inside of a post. But United hung on, thanks in part to Leverkusen's wastefulness and some cool defending from Rio Ferdinand. The victory maintained United's 100% record in the group and has allowed them to take a stranglehold on top spot ahead of the visit of Olympiakos, who were tonight beaten 3-0 by Maccaba Haifa. Leverkusen, who were thrashed 6-2 by Olympiakos Piraeus in their group opener, now face a struggle to survive the first stage.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are still looking for their first point in this season's Champions League after a costly 1-0 home defeat by Feyenoord. Despite constant second-half pressure Bobby Robson's side were unable to cancel out Sebastian Pardo's fourth minute strike for the Dutch UEFA Cup holders.
Desperate to bounce back from last week's 2-0 reverse in Kiev, Newcastle surged forward after the break with former England international Alan Shearer twice going close. Peruvian Nolberto Solano and Welshman Craig Bellamy both forced sharp saves from visiting goalkeeper Edwin Zotebier, while substitute Lomana Lua Lua blazed wastefully over the bar after chesting down Shearer's cross. Defeat leaves Newcastle bottom of group E with Feyenoord and Juventus sharing top spot on four points, one more than Dynamo Kiev, who were tonight demolished 5-0 in Turin.
Elsewhere, Barcelona beat Galatasary 1-0 in Turkey, AC Milan thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 in Spain, Lens and Bayern Munich drew 1-1, while Club Brugge and Locomotiv Moscow played out a goalless draw.
Filed by James Boylan.
