PRESS BOX - GUARDIAN

Last updated : 19 September 2002 By Editor

‘Audacious as it was, Maccabi Haifa discovered to their cost last night what can happen when a team of greenhorns take the lead at Old Trafford. Manchester United's riposte was an attacking display that will have left the Israeli champions, making their debut in this competition, wondering where they left their L-plates.

By half-time United had overturned the jolt of Yaniv Katan's early strike with goals from Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and another two at the start of the second half from Juan Sebastian Veron and Ruud van Nistelrooy ensured there would be no more hairy moments on an ultimately satisfying night. In the end Old Trafford was treated to Diego Forlan's first competitive goal for the club - in his 27th game - from the penalty spot.

Given United's erratic appearance so far this season, the fact this was their worst start to a league campaign for 13 years and that it had taken them six Premiership games to score the five goals they managed in one half against Spurs last season, this was an opportunity, as much as anything, to soothe their fragile confidence.

Yet there were times when the team making their 81st Champions League appearance were barely distinguishable from the team taking their first, tentative steps in this competition and, after seven minutes, a disbelieving Old Trafford must have wondered whether the unimaginable could happen, after all.’