United survive first half at Sporting

Sporting Lisbon 0 Manchester United 0

Edwin van der Sar kept Manchester United on level terms with the tips of his fingers as the Red Devils made a drab start to their Champions League campaign against Sporting Lisbon.

Even with Wayne Rooney restored to their starting line-up for the first time since the opening day of the season, Alex Ferguson’s men struggled to impose themselves against the anticipated Group F makeweights.

And they would have been behind had Van der Sar not been able to reach Liedson’s strike just before the half hour which was heading for the top corner until the giant Dutchman turned it away at full stretch.