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United beat Bordeaux as Barca overcome Porto in a close game. Man Utd: Van der Gouw, G.
Neville, Stam, Silvestre, Irwin, Beckham, Butt, Keane (Fortune 87), Giggs (Solskjaer
88), Cole (P. Neville 81), Sheringham. Bordeaux: Rame, Grenet, Afanou,
Alicarte, Bonnissel, Micoud, Martins (Ziani 65), Pavon, Diabate, Laslandes,
Wiltord. Ryan Giggs' first Champions League goal of the season, five minutes before half-time and a late Teddy Sheringham header gave Manchester United a deserved 2-0 victory over French champions Girondins Bordeaux. The in-form winger cooly despatched a David Beckham cross and Sheringham nodded in six minutes from time to effectively end the Gallic visitors' European ambitions for the campaign. Bordeaux, bottom-placed in the group, started with enterprise and invention, befitting a side fighting for their Champions League lives. United also showed an appetite for the game, despite a rather subdued atmosphere. Nicky Butt threatened with a powerful 20-yarder and then a low drive from Cole flashed past the far post. Sheringham linked well with Giggs, allowing the Welshman to shoot on the turn - however his early effort didn't threaten the 'keeper. David Beckham's majestic 16th minute free-kick deserved a better fate than crashing against the woodwork, but neither Andy Cole nor Teddy Sheringham could despatch the rebound. Bordeaux produced a good move down their left after 24 minutes. Jerome Bonnissel released Laslandes clear and his ball across the goal found Wiltord, who paused long enough before shooting for Denis Irwin to block. The European champions drew first blood five minutes before the interval. Beckham was given too much space down the right. Giggs was the recipient of his inch-perfect cross at the near post and he almost casually flicked the ball into the net. Alicarte's powerful downward header from free-kick was a yard wide three minutes into the second-half. But with the scant sights on Raimond Van der Gouw the Frenchmen were offered, it needed to be on target. Bordeaux had a glorious chance to restore parity on the hour. Wiltord released Laslandes on the right, beating United's hesitant off-side trap. However, the French striker gave Wiltord a dreadful square ball instead of shooting himself, leaving the French player of the year unable to convert from a difficult angle. Giggs was yellow-carded booked after 66 minutes for a foul on Michel Pavon, and the visitors took off Martins, replacing him with Stephane Ziani a minute later. After 69 minutes, Rame was booked for felling down Roy Keane a yard outside the box, and Beckham almost punished the keeper for his misdemeanour with a trademark free-kick that the Frenchman scrambled to parry. Keane, normally the essence of aggression and brave endeavour, writhed around like a car-stricken rabbit, after Rame's foul. His recovery seemed complete moments later when he raced through to bring a fine right-handed save from him. Phil Neville replaced Cole on 81 minutes, leaving just Sheringham up front and an additional man in midfield to stem the Bordeaux counter-attacks that midfield Micou was initiating. United served the death knell to their opposition in the 84th minute when Giggs crossed from the left - so exquisitely that Sheringham had an empty net in which to put his header from six yards. Barcelona 4 Porto 2 Barcelona, under pressure at home following the 3-0 thrashing by Real Madrid at the weekend, were given an almighty shock after just five minutes when Mario Jardel gave the visitors the lead. But Barcelona's form in Europe has belied their troubles at home this season, and they were level within 11 minutes. Rivaldo, fit to play after passing a late fitness test, made it 1-1 before Frank de Boer gave them the lead seven minutes later. Kluivert, one of only four Dutchman in the starting line-up, then gave his side breathing space with a third goal on the stroke of half-time. In the second half, Barcelona enjoyed their lead but were made to sweat just a little when Jardel scored his second 11 minutes from time. However, Rivaldo killed off the Portuguese club with their fourth goal to clinch victory and maintain their unbeaten record in this year's competition. The victory lifts them a point above Porto at the top of Group A, while Hertha Berlin have two points and Sparta Prague one. |
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