Clinical United off to winning start

A late winner from Paul Scholes ensured Manchester United got another Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over Besiktas here on Tuesday.

A game of few chances was settled by the 77th-minute strike from Scholes, the midfielder heading in the rebound after the Turkish champions’ goalkeeper, Hakan Arikan, had beaten out a shot from Portugal winger Nani.

It was a far from vintage performance from last season’s runners-up, who were forced to do without Rio Ferdinand, the England defender ruled out by a groin strain having only just returned to the first team following a month out with a calf problem.

The likes of Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs were also rested while Dimitar Berbatov had to settle for a place on the bench as Ferguson deployed Wayne Rooney as a lone striker with Antonio Valencia, making his Champions League debut, and Nani operating in wide positions either side of him.

It was quickly apparent that Tomas Sivok was bent on ensuring his presence was felt by Rooney and, by the time six minutes had elapsed, the Besiktas centreback had been booked for a couple of agricultural challenges on the England forward.

Valencia had the edge on his marker, Ibrahim Uzulmez, from the outset and much of United’s good work in the opening period was channeled through the Ecuador winger.

An exception to that rule came when Carrick met Rooney’s feed with a 25-yard drive that drew a fine save from Arikan.

Besiktas responded through Serdar Ozkan, whose deflected shot dropped just over the bar with Ben Foster looking beaten at the start of a period of intense but ultimately fruitless pressure from the Turkish champions.

With neither side having created anything in the way of clear chances, the passing of the hour mark saw Berbatov introduced into the fray along with Michael Owen, whose last appearance in the Champions League was as a Real Madrid player, four and a half years ago.

Owen’s entry might have been spectacular with only an errant offside flag denying him the opportunity to demonstrate his finishing skills in a one-on-one with Arikan after Berbatov’s flick had sent him clear of the Besiktas back four.

The Turkish side responded with Mert Nobre heading a good chance just wide but United immediately moved upfield to finally claim the lead.

Having combined with Owen, Valencia found enough space to pick out Nani in the inside left channel, just outside the box. The winger, virtually anonymous up until then, sidestepped his marker and unleashed a fierce drive that Arikan could only beat out, allowing Scholes the opportunity to find the net with a header that went in off the post.

United might have doubled the margin of victory but Owen’s first-time shot from the edge of the area whistled a yard wide of Arikan’s right-hand post.