Bayern, Lyon draw first blood

LONDON – Bayern Munich showed Manchester United what it’s like to lose a crucial Champions League match in injury time with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday, while Lyon beat Bordeaux 3-1 in another quarterfinal match.

United, which scored twice in added time to shock Bayern 2-1 in the 1999 final, had not long conceded a 77th-minute equalizer to France winger Franck Ribery when Ivica Olic dispossessed Patrice Evra in the United area and shot low into the bottom corner. And United’s bad night got worse seconds later when star striker Wayne Rooney, who had opened the scoring with his 34th club goal of the season, was helped from the field with an ankle injury that could threaten his involvement in next week’s second-leg match at Old Trafford.United can still advance to the semi-finals for a fourth straight year with as little as a 1-0 win, but veteran midfielder Paul Scholes is the only fit player in United’s squad to have scored more than one goal in the club’s nine Champions League matches.Ferguson said Rooney could sit out Saturday’s crucial Premier League meeting with Chelsea, which trails the defending English champion by just one point with six games remaining.But it was not a lack of cutting edge that cost United victory on Tuesday at Allianz Arena.’Bayern were the better team; we can’t complain about that,’ Ferguson said. ‘But we’re better than that in possession. We kept giving it away and it causes your own downfall,’ said United manager Alex Ferguson.United appeared to be cruising after Rooney’s 11th goal in nine matches, but Ribery equalised with a free kick that deflected off Rooney and beat goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. United was trying to keep possession for the closing moments and hold on for a draw but Olic ran from behind Evra to steal the ball and feint to beat Van der Sar with a side-footed shot.Lyon secured victory over Bordeaux through two goals from Lisandro Lopez, a string of saves by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and defensive blunders from its French rival.Lopez put Lyon ahead in the 10th minute before Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh equalised four minutes later with a header.Brazilian winger Michel Bastos made it 2-1 from a tight angle in the 32nd and Lopez sealed the victory in the 77th with a penalty, sending goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso the wrong way. But Lloris made an amazing reflex save with the score at 2-1 in the 61st, blocking a volley from five metres by Chamakh. Seven minutes later, the France goalkeeper stopped Yoann Gourcuff’s free kick that was headed toward the top corner.’We’re unhappy that they scored,’ Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom said. ‘But overall we’re pretty pleased with our performance.’ – Nampa-AP

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.