Ruud winner gives Fergie happy 1000th game

Manchester United 2 Lyon 1

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 35th goal in 36 European games for Manchester United ensured Alex Ferguson could celebrate his 1000th game as manager in style.

The Dutchman’s header ensured United’s progression into the last 16 and saw them leapfrog above fellow qualifiers Lyon, who have to beat Sparta Prague in France in a fortnight and hope United do not achieve a similar result from their own last game.

Earlier Roy Carroll’s horrendous first-half blunder had threatened to spoil Ferguson’s party when he let Mahamadou Diarra’s long-range effort slip through his grasp to level Gary Neville’s early opener.

But, as he has so often in the past, van Nistelrooy pounced, nodding home Rio Ferdinand’s cross to ease United into the last 16 of the tournament Ferguson holds most dear with a game to spare.