CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW
There were elements of comedy and tragedy as Manchester United squeezed past the Greek champions to win Group F and became the first team to qualify for the last 16. But it will be a worry for Sir Alex Ferguson that his side almost capitulated to Olympiakos and surrendered a 2-0 lead before coming to their senses with a late winner.
The game got off to a pedestrian start and went downhill for most of the remaining first half. There was a flurry of United activity around the Olympiakos box, after six minutes. Scholes went close with an audacious 45-yard shot before Blanc drew a save from the keeper moments later.
Scholes, looking lively in his strikers role, went even closer in the eighth minute, producing a superb volley from the edge of the box that flew just past the upright. At the other end a hapless home side had an effort from Djorjievic but he fired high over the bar.
There was an eerie atmosphere in the stadium as Olympiakos demonstrated an unwillingness to make a game of it. United simply treated proceedings as a training game and there was even an air of practice about the goal which gave the visitors the lead, midway through the half. Giggs floated a corner into the box and Blanc rose, unopposed, to head past the keeper who was as static as the rest of his defence.
Such was Uniteds domination that they were able to match Olympiakos normal game with walking-pace possession. This was certainly not a game for the archives, yet. Right on 45 minutes Olympiakos should have equalised but when Djorjievic, after a fine run, unleashed his shot it was blocked by Silvestre. But it was a measure of the total domination United imposed on the Greek champions that the home supporters were reduced to silent apathy.
Olympiakos sent Choutos on for the second half and the striker was to play a significant part in his sides fightback. But the next chance, unsurprisingly, went to United, unfortunately the hapless Forlan side-footed weakly and his effort was easily saved.
Just before the hour Veron made it 2-0 with a quality goal that capped a great evening for him. The Argentine burst forward, from midfield, and played a couple of one-twos before taking a poor return pass from Giggs to fire into the corner of the net from the edge of the box. Game, set and match one might think, but, by their manager' own admission, United do things the hard way. Choutos burst into the penalty area, on 67 minutes, but his weak left foot shot failed to trouble Barthez. However that proved a 'sighter and a portent of what was to come as Ferguson then substituted Beckham and Giggs and then Uniteds troubles began.
Three minutes after his first effort Choutos showed his true worth when his determined run took him past four United defenders and he slipped the ball effortlessly past Barthez. Four minutes later it was another incisive, and unopposed, run from midfield that had the visitors thinking the unthinkable, defeat loomed.
Djorjievic, Olympiakos best player on the night, picked up the ball, deep in midfield, with plenty of blue shirts between him and the goal. Unfortunately United players backed away from the Greek skippers run and when he got within range a terrific 18 yard shot zoomed past Barthez to set up an interesting finish.
However, with too many United players having knocked off early, Scholes rose to the occasion and took responsibility to re-impose Uniteds control. With ten minutes left the midfielder produced a wicked drive that beat the keeper but smacked against the post. Four minutes later Scholes dug United out of the hole that was self-inflicted with a terrific goal. He worked a neat one-two with Veron before sending a dipping shot through the keepers hands to secure a 3-2 victory that takes United into the last 16, with two games left.
After the game a relieved Sir Alex revealed the contrasting emotions he suffered as his side almost threw away the game. He said: "I thought we were absolutely superb until that period when we lost the two goals through a bit of carelessness. But thankfully Paul Scholes managed to put the game beyond their reach and we are happy to be in the next phase.'
As to the substitutions of Giggs and Beckham, Ferguson explained: "We were in a good position and it was an opportunity to play players who needed a game, like Luke Chadwick and Quinton Fortune. We did that and it obviously back-fired.'
Looking ahead to the remaining two Champions League games, Fergie added: "Its good that we have got a place in the second stage because it means we can make changes next week. The players who performed tonight are the same ones who have performed for most of the season.
"We have not been in a position, or had the luxury to change the team around, which has been a feature of our selections over the last few years. Next Tuesday we now have an opportunity to do it.'
