Saviour Scholes strikes late to save United’s blushes

Olympiakos 2 Man Utd 3

Laurent Blanc and Juan Sebastian Veron had struck either side of the break as United dominated against opponents whose only previous home Champions League defeat came at the Red Devils’ hands 12 months’ ago.

After an hour of dominance, the game seemed dead, even to the pragmatic Old Trafford chief, who withdrew David Beckham and Ryan Giggs for greater tests ahead. Yet, spurred on by substitute Lambros Choutos, the Greeks mounted an unlikely comeback, the 22-year-old striker lashing past Fabien Barthez 20 minutes from time before skipper Predrag Djordjevic brought his team level with a superb drive from the edge of the area.