Post by Taxigirl on Sept 16, 2004 7:50:20 GMT
skysports.planetfootball.com
Liverpool enjoyed a winning start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, while Manchester United had to work hard to scramble a draw in Lyon.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side found themselves 2-0 down at Stade Gerland, and it could have been more in a first half when Lyon were by far the better side.
Tim Howard dropped another clanger to allow Cris to put Paul Le Guen's men ahead, while Pierre-Alain Frau doubled the hosts' lead a minute before the break.
Ferguson's half time chat must have done wonders and Ruud van Nistelrooy came to their rescue yet again with two goals in five minutes at the start of the second half.
Both sides created, and missed, glorious chances to go into the lead but in the end United will settle for a point that looked so unlikely at half time.
Liverpool did a lot better in their opener as they produced a polished display to see-off last season's Champions League finalists Monaco at Anfield.
The Reds were the better side throughout the match but failed to build on Djibril Cisse's great finish after 22 minutes.
Rafa Benitez's side missed a number of chances to seal the match but as the Kop was starting to get nervous, substitute Milan Baros wrapped things up six minutes from time to seal a great start to the campaign.
Liverpool now top Group A after the other match in their group ended in a 0-0 draw between Deportivo La Coruna and Olympiakos in Spain.
In Manchester United's Group D, Pierre van Hooijdonk was the match winner for Fenerbahce as they started with a 1-0 win over Sparta Prague in Istanbul.
Real Madrid started off their campaign in the worst possible way as Los Galacticos were brought down to earth with a bump courtesy of a 3-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Jose Camacho's stars were humbled in the BayArena thanks to goals from Jacek Krzynowek, Franca and Dimitar Berbatov, leaving David Beckham and company with a lot to think about.
There was controversy in the other game in Group B when referee Anders Frisk was hit by a missile from the crowd as he went off at half time.
Roma were 1-0 down following Goran Gavrancic's strike for Dynamo Kiev when defender Philippe Mexes was sent off just after the half time whistle for an off the ball incident.
The incensed Stadio Olimpico crowd then erupted and Swedish official Frisk was struck and left bleeding as he made his way off the pitch - and Uefa are certain to come down hard on the Italians.
Group C favourites Juventus and Bayern Munich both started their campaigns with 1-0 away victories.
Czech Republic ace Pavel Nedved was the difference in Amsterdam as his sublime effort was enough to see off a youthful Ajax side.
Nedved raced onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and chipped an exquisite shot with the outside of his right foot which found the top corner of the net to hand Juve a winning start.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv lost their first ever Champions League match - also the first ever to be staged in Israel, as Bayern Munich won 1-0.
Roy Makaay scored the winner from the penalty spot to give struggling Bayern a welcome victory after a troubled start to their domestic season.
Liverpool enjoyed a winning start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, while Manchester United had to work hard to scramble a draw in Lyon.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side found themselves 2-0 down at Stade Gerland, and it could have been more in a first half when Lyon were by far the better side.
Tim Howard dropped another clanger to allow Cris to put Paul Le Guen's men ahead, while Pierre-Alain Frau doubled the hosts' lead a minute before the break.
Ferguson's half time chat must have done wonders and Ruud van Nistelrooy came to their rescue yet again with two goals in five minutes at the start of the second half.
Both sides created, and missed, glorious chances to go into the lead but in the end United will settle for a point that looked so unlikely at half time.
Liverpool did a lot better in their opener as they produced a polished display to see-off last season's Champions League finalists Monaco at Anfield.
The Reds were the better side throughout the match but failed to build on Djibril Cisse's great finish after 22 minutes.
Rafa Benitez's side missed a number of chances to seal the match but as the Kop was starting to get nervous, substitute Milan Baros wrapped things up six minutes from time to seal a great start to the campaign.
Liverpool now top Group A after the other match in their group ended in a 0-0 draw between Deportivo La Coruna and Olympiakos in Spain.
In Manchester United's Group D, Pierre van Hooijdonk was the match winner for Fenerbahce as they started with a 1-0 win over Sparta Prague in Istanbul.
Real Madrid started off their campaign in the worst possible way as Los Galacticos were brought down to earth with a bump courtesy of a 3-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Jose Camacho's stars were humbled in the BayArena thanks to goals from Jacek Krzynowek, Franca and Dimitar Berbatov, leaving David Beckham and company with a lot to think about.
There was controversy in the other game in Group B when referee Anders Frisk was hit by a missile from the crowd as he went off at half time.
Roma were 1-0 down following Goran Gavrancic's strike for Dynamo Kiev when defender Philippe Mexes was sent off just after the half time whistle for an off the ball incident.
The incensed Stadio Olimpico crowd then erupted and Swedish official Frisk was struck and left bleeding as he made his way off the pitch - and Uefa are certain to come down hard on the Italians.
Group C favourites Juventus and Bayern Munich both started their campaigns with 1-0 away victories.
Czech Republic ace Pavel Nedved was the difference in Amsterdam as his sublime effort was enough to see off a youthful Ajax side.
Nedved raced onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and chipped an exquisite shot with the outside of his right foot which found the top corner of the net to hand Juve a winning start.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv lost their first ever Champions League match - also the first ever to be staged in Israel, as Bayern Munich won 1-0.
Roy Makaay scored the winner from the penalty spot to give struggling Bayern a welcome victory after a troubled start to their domestic season.