Champions League: United two up at interval

Goals from David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy have given Manchester United a two-goal half-time lead - but also priceless away goals - in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Deportivo La Coruna.

Dep La Coruna 0, Manchester Utd 2 (half-time)

David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored to put Manchester United in a commanding position against Deportivo La Coruna during a bitter-sweet first half for the Reds.

Beckham opened the scoring with a quite brilliant chip on 15 minutes before van Nistelrooy netted on 41 minutes.

But then just before the interval Roy Keane, who damaged his cruciate ligaments five years ago, was stretchered off with a serious knee injury.

Deportivo gathered their senses and blitzed the United goal.

First Ronny Johnsen made a great tackle to rob Diego Tristan as he prepared to fire home from Lionel Scaloni’s right-wing cross.

Butt then made a superb tackle in the area before Barthez parried a shot from Gonzalez Soriano Sergio as Depor cranked up the pressure another notch.

Van Nistelrooy was then booked for returning to the pitch without the referee’s permission after being carried off injured.

Depor kept up the pressure and Barthez made a great save to keep out Tristan’s header before Johnsen dispossessed Sergio.

Centre-half Cesar joined the attack and he turned and shot only for Barthez to save his efnied Sanchez Victor.

Then four minutes before half-time, United went up the other end to deliver the classic counter punch by scoring a second goal.

United retained possession after Molina had punched away Beckham’s curling free-kick and Johnsen fed Mikael Silvestre on the left and he centred for van Nistelrooy to tuck home his 32nd competitive goal of the season.

Much of the shine went off United’s night a minute later when Keane injured his knee going for a 50-50 ball with Sergio.

The Reds skipper was stretchered off with what looked a serious injury to be replaced by Quinton Fortune.