Juan Sebastain Veron produced one of his best performances yet for Manchester United as they virtually guaranteed themselves a place in the second phase of the Champions League with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over a lacklustre Olympiakos at Old Trafford last night. The Argentinian's exquisite chip finish for United's second goal of the night was one of the highlight's of an impressive United display which also featured two goals from Ryan Giggs and another from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Alex Ferguson's side were rampant from early on, with David Beckham going close with one of his trademark free-kicks and Gary Neville forcing another save from Dimitios Eleftheropoulos with a 30-yard drive. United's pressure finally paid off in the 19th minute when Paul Scholes crossed low to Giggs, whose first attempt was blocked but was able to jab the ball into the net as it rebounded back to him. Eleftheropoulos produced another fine save at the feet of Scholes before Veron made it two in the 26th minute. The Argentinian ran onto an incisive return pass from David Beckham before delightfully lobbing the stranded Eleftheropoulos.
Brazilian Ze Elias was given his marching orders just before the break when he earned his second yellow card for a two-footed lunge on Veron. More United pressure paid off when Giggs claimed his second and United's third. Picked out by Veron on the left, the winger fired in a low cross that was deflected inside the Olympiakos keeper by Anatolakis. Veron also had a hand in United's fourth, finding Scholes in space in the box. The England midfielder duly slipped the ball to Solskjaer, who side-footed home from eight yards.
Elsewhere in Group F, Bayer Leverkusen gave themselves a chance of qualifying for the next phase when they beat Israel's Maccabi Haifa 2-0 in Nicosia.
Filed by James Boylan.
