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Wednesday, 18 October, 2000, 20:41 GMT 21:41 UK
Man Utd late show stuns PSV
Manchester United 3-1 PSV Eindhoven
Manchester United staged a typical late show to snatch victory after their Champions League hopes hung in the balance against PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson's Premier League pace-setters were grateful to goals from Paul Scholes and Dwight Yorke inside the last ten minutes after PSV threatened to spring a surprise and escape with a point.
United failed to capitalise on Teddy Sheringham's early goal - and they were stunned when Mark Van Bommel pulled PSV level with a second half equaliser.
But United called on the spirit of so many Champions League encounters, and their seemingly endless reserves of resistance, to ease through the gears and go back to the top of Group G.
It was another night of living dangerously for United - and for seven agonising minutes when PSV were level, Old Trafford feared the worst.
United were in complete control early on, but PSV edged their way back into contention as Ferguson's men slipped from their high standards.
And it was left to the outstanding Scholes, and substitute Yorke, to pull United clear of the talented Dutch side.
Ferguson warned PSV they would witness a different Manchester United on home soil - and an irresistible early surge proved his point.
Sheringham had already warned the Dutch side with one header, but PSV failed to take heed and he punished them after eight minutes.
Beckham's corner was perfectly flighted, leaving Sheringham to pull away from his marker and head powerfully past Ronald Waterreus from eight yards.
United were dangerous whenever they attacked, and PSV had a fortunate escape four minutes later when Ryan Giggs escaped down the left, but his cross drifted behind Sheringham.
PSV courted danger by giving away two free kicks less than 25 yards out, but they survived Beckham's expertise, courtesy of a save from Waterreus and a block from the defensive wall.
Waterreus was called upon again to plunge at the feet of Ronny Johnsen as United pressed in an attempt to kill the game off.
And PSV suffered another blow after 28 minutes, when Arnold Bruggink limped off to be replaced by Lucius.
United's supremacy was in danger of developing into over-confidence as half-time approached, giving PSV a foothold that barely seemed possible in the early stages.
Sheringham should have doubled United's advantage in first half injury time after a brilliant run from Giggs, who had enjoyed an outstanding 45 minutes.
Giggs cut into the penalty area and his cross was only palmed into Sheringham's path by Waterreus, but the England striker blazed a wasteful finish high over the bar.
Beckham's set pieces were causing havoc, and another perfectly delivered free kick after 51 minutes saw Johnsen crash a header off the PSV cross-bar from inside the six-yard area.
It was United's last moment of joy for some time as PSV slowly but surely edged their wy back into contention with a shrewd passing game and newly-discovered defensive resilience.
Instead of firing up United, it inspired PSV and they equalised just a minute later - with the suspect Mikael Silvestre the villain of the piece.
The French defender was guilty of woeful defending when he attemped to head clear, gifting Van Bommel the opportunity to stun Old Trafford with a precise side-foot finish from 12 yards.
It finally sparked a response from United, and they went back in front with nine minutes remaining.
Silvestre went some way to making amends for his earlier error with a raking pass that found Yorke, and when Cole stepped over the ball, Scholes arrrived in the penalty area to provide an emphaitc finish.
Old Trafford breathed a collective sigh of relief - and Yorke made life more comfortable when he raced clear to score with four minutes left to earn a vital three points.
Man Utd: Barthez, G. Neville, Irwin, Silvestre, Johnsen, Scholes, Beckham, Giggs, Keane, Cole, Sheringham. Subs: Bosnich, Brown, P. Neville, Butt, Fortune, Yorke, Solskjaer.
PSV: Waterreus, Heintze, van Bommel, van der Weerden, Nikiforov, Vogel, van der Doelen, Bruggink, Ramzi, Kezman, Hofland. Subs: Lodewijks, Ooijer, Dirkx, Lucius, de Jong, Kolkka, Rommedahl.
Referee: J Fernandez Marin (Spain)
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