Lyon level with United after Carroll howler

Manchester United 1 Lyon 1

Roy Carroll’s horrific mistake threatened to turn Alex Ferguson’s 1000th-game party into a damp squib at Old Trafford tonight.

Gary Neville put the hosts in front with only his second goal in 95 Champions League appearances but five minutes before the interval, United were made to pay for a growing number of wasted chances.

There seemed to be little danger when Diarra picked up Juninho’s short pass 35 yards out but Carroll lost the defender’s effort in flight and inexplicably allowed it to slip out of his grasp.