Champions League - United win at Besiktas

Eurosport - Wed, 16 Sep 09:25:00 2009

Paul Scholes popped up to head home the only goal of the game as Manchester United kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win at Besiktas.

paul scholes mobbed v besiktas - 0

Besiktas may not be the force of recent seasons, but Istanbul is an intimidating place and United had to ride out a storm and keep the crowd in check.

That they did in polished style and were rewarded with the winning goal, Scholes' 22nd in the Champions League, at a time when the crowd were roaring on the home side.

A win on the road in Europe is welcome at any time, but Sir Alex Ferguson is sure to be thrilled to have got this potential banana skin out of the way at the advent of the campaign.

United were sharp out of the blocks against a Besiktas side who seemed intent on proving they were no back number following the bitter weekend defeat to Galatasaray.

Scholes, sent off at the weekend, had plenty of life in his legs and a superb tackle fashioned a half-chance for Wayne Rooney but his shot from 25 yards flew wide.

Rooney looked extremely sharp in his solo attacking role, popping up all the way along the front line and he exchanged passes with Nani before teeing up Michael Carrick and his well-struck shot was clasped at full stretch by Hakan Arikan.

Arikan was called into action again on the quarter-hour, tipping the ball away from danger after Antonio Valencia had flicked on a near-post corner.

Valencia had the upper hand against Ibrahim Uzulmez on the flank and he benefited from a fine piece of play from Rooney and delivered a teasing cross into the box, but Ibrahim Kas was on hand to clear after Arikan had fumbled.

Rooney seemed to be at the heart of all United's positive play and he flipped a great cross into the box after popping up on the left, but Valencia could only glance a header wide.

Besiktas kept the crowd on their side by working hard to stifle United and they grew in confidence as the first half developed, but were restricted to shots from distance.

Serder Ozkan looked the most potent attacking threat for Besiktas and he almost grabbed the opening goal, but his shot which deflected off Jonny Evans' boot looped onto the roof of the net.

United could and possibly should have taken the lead at the start of the second half. A teasing cross from Nani forced a drastic defensive clearance from Matteo Ferrari, the ball was returned into the path of Carrick but he was unable to generate any power on his strike from eight yards.

Ferguson shuffled his pack, with Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen brought on for Rooney and Carrick. Rooney had steam coming from his ears as he trudged off and made his feelings known by flinging his boot into the ground.

Owen looked like justifying the substitution when appearing to spring the offside trap but after rounding the keeper, a late flag halted him in his tracks.

Valencia looked like United's most likely source of a goal following Rooney's departure and he flashed a low shot a yard wide after leaving his marker chasing shadows.

United's winner came on 77 minutes and it was somewhat appropriate that Valencia had a hand in it.

The Ecuadorian exchanged passes with Owen before shifting the ball to Nani. The winger made space and shot on goal, Arikan made a fine diving save but Scholes was on hand to nod home the rebound.

The goal calmed the crowd a shade, but the introduction of Nihat with eight minutes remaining raised the decibel level and he crafted a chance with a sweet cross but Mert Nobre was just unable to stretch his neck far enough to reach.

Owen squandered a good chance crafted by Berbatov, but it mattered little as United took a welcome three points.

Alex Livie / Eurosport

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  1. To Purple Aki. Why say that about yan Giggs. Of course­ he has a birth certificate. Everybody gets one­ illegitimate or otherwise. And for the record he's­ not 'illegitimate'. He was born under the name­ Wilson in Cardiff but changed it when his parents split­ to her maiden name of Giggs. Make sure your comments­ are correct before posting them in such a wanton­ manner.

    From quatt47, on Fri 18 Sep 1:57PM

  2. I don`t like man u but credit where credits due,­ Besiktas in that atmosphere was never gonna be easy,­ all 4 English clubs had a crappy start to the CL­ campaign and all 4 clubs walked away with 3 points­ each, just hope nobody meets until the semis again.­ Anyway back to mud flinging again at weekend, see ya­ later lads !

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Thu 17 Sep 5:56AM

  3. VAGASMUFC, 184 YOUNEED AN ANGER MANAGEMENT COARSE MY­ SAD POOR FREIND, ///ASK "SLUR ALEX" WERE HE­ ATTENDS AND GET YOURSELF BOOKED MATE , YOU ARE­ SERIOUSLY MENTALLY..ILL, WHAT STHE MATTER BIG ISSUES­ NOT SELLING , MUST BE BAD NOT BEING ABLE TO EARN A­ ...WEDGE,

    NEVER TRUST A ... SNIFFER, NOT EVEN A­ RIOFORMED ONE, SEE YA LOSER!

    From TEVEZ, on Wed 16 Sep 7:35PM

  4. left it late, but good start

    From 322, on Wed 16 Sep 7:02PM

  5. ON YOUTUBE... "UNITED KAREOKE " IS MUCH­ BETTER.......... GIGGSY IS A ILIGITAMATE HE AINT GOT NO­ BIRTH CERTIFICATE...

    From PURPLE AKi, on Wed 16 Sep 6:26PM

  6. go to you tube and type "man united" there­ is­ a BRILLIANT video on there called "United­­ Rules"

    From pegez, on Wed 16 Sep 4:30PM

  7. @#$% game job done 3 points what more do we need ha ha­ well done scholesy and the lads in bringing home the­ points and shutting the turkish fans up

    From the-man-with-no-name, on Wed 16 Sep 4:16PM

  8. both teams played brillantly, could of been a draw but­ schole nipped in a great header

    From Paul T, on Wed 16 Sep 3:34PM

  9. 187 a blatant lie, your mate got slashed where exactly?­ Never seen it in the papers where exactly by the­ ground? The away end? Don't think so you lying­ wa^ker, I got a season ticket in the upper tier Anfield­ road end and no way people throw pi55 down you lying­ t.w.a.t you never been to Anfield have you? Been eating­ too many space cakes fatty

    From Alex fergusons big red conk, on Wed 16 Sep 1:58PM

  10. Vegasmufc, I’m sorry you experienced those things. They­ are totally inexcusable. These are the things that all­ clubs need to stamp out. Liverpool fans are not­ perfect; Man U fans are not perfect. I’ve nothing­ against Man U football club or their fans. What Man U­ has achieved under Ferguson is remarkable. I just don’t­ understand some of the comments, when they go past­ light hearted banter (something I aimed for when I­ posted my message) and border on hatred. I just don’t­ think comments like that are useful or constructive.­ May the best team win…

    From davidsamuelallen, on Wed 16 Sep 1:28PM

  11. MAN UNITED FOR LIFE....MAN UNITED FOR LIFE....MAN­ UNITED FOR LIFE.....MAN UNITED
    FOR LIFE.....no­ ronaldo...no tevez... no sweat...but sheer sweet­ football to watch
    ROONEY HARRANGUE defenders from all­ over europe, the epl..etc..etc....

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Wed 16 Sep 11:44AM

  12. Good comment - well noted 'Bike 69, mabaho ka­ !'.

    From dave.fleming, on Wed 16 Sep 11:29AM

  13. Bike 69 mabaho ka !,

    What's with the sudden­ change in mood,huh??...sigh!!..Thanks anw on behalf to­ all the Man Utd faithful!!!..
    that's all!!!..

    From Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger, on Wed 16 Sep 11:22AM

  14. Pains me to say this, but congratulations to man u for­ getting a good result in the İnönü Stadium,­ not the easiest of places to go.
    LFC.

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Wed 16 Sep 10:30AM

  15. well done

    From c, on Wed 16 Sep 9:59AM

  16. jon dream on you cant even beat City

    From keith j, on Wed 16 Sep 9:57AM

  17. RE 185... Would you prefer Rooney was pleased to come­ off the pitch? He just wants to play all the time and­ if you ask me, that is the sort of Passion England­ miss. He needs to make sure he channels his aggression­ for sure, but I think he has done a good job of that­ over the last few moths..

    Also, look at all the­ modern greats, they all had aggression in their game,­ Bergkamp, Cantona, Keane, Vieria, Gerrard etc etc.­

    Keep going Roo, we need that aggression and passion­ if we even want to entertain the thought of winning the­ world cup!!

    From Darran, on Wed 16 Sep 9:53AM

  18. nO165 DAVIDSAMUWHATEVER
    YOU APPEAR TO BE ANOTHER­ DELUDED LIVEINTHEPAST FC FAN(AND OBVIOUSLY NOT A­ SCOUSER )WHO HAS THIS IMAGE OF THE "LOVABLE­ SCOUSER" THESE POOR LITTLE WAIFS WHO ALWAYS HAVE­ TRADGEDIES TO DEAL WITH(AS WE ALL DO !) YET ALL STICK­ TOGETHER IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND SING YOU'LL NEVER­ WALK ALONE .
    THAT IS WHY IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS" SELF­ PITY CITY"
    WHAT I SUGGEST , IS INSTEAD OF­ LISTENING TO ANDY GRAY BANG ON ABOUT HOW FANTASTIC­ STEVIE G IS AND WHAT A WARM WELCOME YOU'LL RECIEVE­ OFF THEM WITTY AND LOVAGLE ROGUES,NEXT TIME MAN UNITED­ VISIT BINDIPPER CENTRALJUST SEE WHAT SORT OF RECEPTION­ WE GET! MMUNICH SONGS,COINS THROWN AT US ,CUPS OF­ PPISS THROWN AT US,WHEN WE LEFT THE GROUND 4YRS AGO A­ SSHITHOUSE BINDIPPER RAN PAST MY MATE AND SLASHED HIS­ FACE WITH A STANLEY KNIFE !
    NON OF THIS IS A PROBLEM­ FOR US WE STILL GO EVER WEEK,WHAT PPISSES ME OFF IS­ ARMCHAIR KKNOBEDS LIKE YOU WHO HAVEN'T GOT A FFUKIN­ CLUE !

    From vegasmufc, on Wed 16 Sep 9:46AM

  19. No I dont want a free Playstation, x-box, I-pod or Cash­ gadjet guy. I wanna celebrate Man U.
    City go down 3­ nil. They'll know why other teams call it the­ 'theater of screams'. Go Man-U!

    From ckingongo, on Wed 16 Sep 9:24AM

  20. Wayne Rooney's temperament leaves me very worried­ for England in the world cup. I just hope he­ doesn't cost us. It's about time he grew up

    From jackie.castles, on Wed 16 Sep 9:20AM
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