Lacklustre United stung late by Porto

THE CHAMPIONS League holders face a challenge fit for a club with grand ambitions. After recovering from 1-0 down to lead they conceded an equaliser to Mariano, unmarked at the far post, in the 89th minute. In all likelihood Manchester United must win away to Porto, as no English club has previously done in this competition.

They will be troubled that they did not see out a victory after edging ahead four minutes earlier. That goal was initiated by one substitute, Gary Neville, with a throw-in and back-heeled on by Wayne Rooney to another, Carlos Tevez, who shot home. That acuteness had not been typical and Porto merited this outcome.

This match carried the shock of unfamiliarity. It had not been supposed that Porto would bring so much audacity, to say nothing of technique, to Old Trafford. United often stumbled before the interval, unable to overcome their disbelief at the sheer difficulty of the test.

There was an unwelcome confirmation that the form of the Premier League champions is wavering at exactly the wrong moment.

Porto allowed United no time to compose themselves. They were fast, sharp-witted and accurate. In the circumstances United could not afford to encourage them as they did. The visitors had called for a fine save by Edwin van der Sar from a Lucho drive even before they opened the scoring. Cristiano Ronaldo, misdirecting a pass deep in his own half, extended the invitation for a goal in the fourth minute.

Lucho’s delivery from the right should have been dealt with by Jonny Evans, who was appearing in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand, but he knocked the ball into the path of Cristian Rodriguez, who finished with a low and exact drive.

When United levelled on the quarter-hour, they did so by punishing casual play. The centre-half Bruno Alves did not look up and so knocked a back-pass directly to Rooney, who composed himself and finished with aplomb.

A Ronaldo header from John O’Shea’s cross had flown straight to the goalkeeper Helton a minute earlier but there was no onslaught then. Porto continued to be superior. Rodriguez headed too close to Van der Sar and then Lisandro could not quite meet a ball from Rolando.

All the emphasis on Federico Macheda’s stoppage-time winner for United over Aston Villa on Sunday was natural and reflected the sheer exhilaration of seeing a teenage debutant execute so refined a finish.

That publicity, though, also served the club in other respects. It reduced the amount of time devoted to the fact that they had continued to be out of sorts following the defeats by Liverpool and Fulham.

The question about this quarter-final was whether it would show that Alex Ferguson’s side had recovered form. The answer was clear by the interval. Potential problems had always lurked in the build-up.

So it was that Park Ji-sung, who had remained on the bench throughout the Villa game, was on the pitch at kick-off because his tireless industry and undemonstrative ability often bring balance to United on nights like this. Ferguson could also recall those who had been serving domestic suspensions, such as Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Rooney.

Porto, for all the attention devoted to the Champions League, were as close as this tournament comes to an unknown quantity at this stage in the schedule. Ferguson had reflected beforehand on the confidence that must exist in a Porto side on the trail of a fourth consecutive League title. They had also shown durability to get past Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Jesualdo Ferreira’s team appreciate, all the same, that no one brackets them with the predecessors who beat United on the way to winning this tournament under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho in 2004. They were out to build their own reputation and did so with zest at Old Trafford.

Visitors to this stadium usually enjoy and appreciate half-time for the respite it brings but here it must have been United who relished a pause in which they could regroup. The main alterations for the second half seemed to be an increase in tempo and a desire to spread the ball wide as soon as possible. That was soon aided by the introduction of Ryan Giggs.

Directness is a little old-fashioned but it had some impact and United’s confidence was lifted for a while. Rooney showed that with a bold chip which Helton tipped to safety and the goalkeeper then made a good save from the Vidic header that followed a corner. All the same, this was more a recovery of pride than an onslaught.

Almost inevitably Porto regained their poise. When they threatened once more in the 69th minute, the deflection off Evans must have helped Van der Sar deal with Lisandro’s attempt. It was symptomatic of the night that the goalkeeper was the most influential presence for United.

They may not have been cowed but this night left them with much to consider before the return in Portugal.

Guardian Service

MAN UTD:Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Evans (Neville 72), Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes (Tevez 72), Ronaldo, Rooney, Park (Giggs 58). Subs not used: Foster, Eckersley, Nani, Macheda.

FC PORTO:Helton, Sapunaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Lucho Gonzalez, Fernando, Raul Meireles (Costa 79), Lopez, Hulk, Rodriguez (Mariano Gonzalez 79), Costa (Madrid 90). Subs not used: Nuno, Stepanov, Farias, Sektioui. Booked: Bruno Alves, Helton.

Referee:Konrad Plautz (Austria).