Macc Haifa lead United at break

Maccabi Haifa 1, Manchester United 0 (half-time)

Yaniv Katan produced a thunderbolt strike to threaten Manchester United’s 100% Champions League record in Nicosia tonight.

The vastly understrength visitors had produced an encouraging display, with Paul Scholes going close before Katan took advantage of Maccabi Haifa’s best spell of the half, lashing home from 25 yards four minutes before the interval.

Scholes and Forlan were possibly too intricate as they attempted a snappy passing move 20 yards from the Maccabi goal before Silvestre darted onto Richardson’s return pass, winning a corner which Rio Ferdinand met, but conceding a free-kick in the process.

Scholes sent Fortune away down the right but with Forlan steaming into the box, the South African’s cross was poor.

Badeer got into a tangle as he intervened to prevent Scholes’ next link with Fortune turning into a goalscoring chance and though Maccabi were enthusiastic and willing when they broke forward, it was United who were carrying marginally the greater threat.

It was typified by Scholes, who took a pass from Forlan then unleashed a 25-yard thunderbolt which Awate tipped over.

Forlan failed to get a firm connection on Gary Neville’s cross, then Fortune ran out of room when he dribbled into the area.

Silvestre tried his luck from an acute angle as United continued to press but when Maccabi next pushed forward, John O’Shea had his name taken for flattening the imposing Ayegbeni, Adoram Keise floating the free-kick harmlessly over.

Silvestre’s left-wing raids have provided a useful attacking outlet for Ferguson’s team this season and the French full-back drilled over another low cross which struck Solskjaer’s standing foot when the Norwegian might have been expected to do better.

O’Shea won his next battle with Ayegbeni, robbing the Nigerian 20 yards from the United goal, then the Irish defender stretched to prevent Yaniv Katan’s pass causing damage.

Forlan’s square pass provided Richardson with an excellent shooting chance eight minutes before the break but the youngster snatched at the opportunity and a deflection off a Maccabi defender only took it closer to the visitors goal.

Silvestre was booked for a foul on Avishay Zano, Phil Neville heading away Ayegbeni’s cross after the free-kick had drifted beyond the far post.

Ricardo’s reactions were tested again when Badeer completely missed Zano’s rolled ball into the area, Ayegbeni lashing in a close range shot which Ricardo saved with his chest.

It proved to be a brief respite for the visitors though as Katan, picking the ball up 40 yards out, side-stepped O’Shea and let fly with a vicious dipping shot which flew under the bar with Ricardo well beaten.