PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Utd, oh so close to a famous victory over Bayern Munich in the Olympic Stadium. Peter Schmeichel's mistake in the 90 minute gifted Elber with his second and Bayern pip Utd for a draw."

MATCH REPORT

By David Anderson, PA Sport

Peter Schmeichel produced an uncharacteristic blunder in the final minute to deny Manchester United all three priceless Champions' League points against Bayern Munich in the Olympic Stadium. United goalkeeper Schmeichel came for and missed Bixente Lizarazu's throw-in from the left and Brazilian Giovane Elber nodded in for his second goal of the night, although Teddy Sheringham appeared to get the final touch.

Victory would have put United in a commanding position in Group D - the so-called 'Group of Death' - but now Barcelona are setting the pace after tonight's 2-0 win against Brondby. Ironically, even though Munich has such tragic associations with United this was the first meeting in European competition between the two sides.

To mark the occasion a minute's silence was held before kick-off to remember the victims of the 1958 air crash. Bayern needed to beat United to revive their Champions' League hopes after losing at Brondby and they went straight onto the attack.

The Bundesliga side have scored an incredible 14 goals in their three home games this season and after 11 minutes they increased that tally to 15. Elber found Carsten Jancker in the box and he played a one-two with Hasan Salihamidzic before Elber, looking suspiciously offside, finished off the move from close range for his sixth goal of the season.

Sheringham, making only his second start of the season, almost equalised when he glanced a header just wide from Jaap Stam's header after David Beckham's free-kick. Sheringham went close again after 23 minutes when he forced a good stop from Oliver Kahn after Beckham had found him just inside the area from a corner.

United's pressure was rewarded with an equaliser on 29 minutes with a goal created by Beckham. The England midfielder won the ball on the right flank and played a one-two with Sheringham before he crossed for Yorke, who stooped inside the six-yard box to head home his first Champions' League goal for United and the club's 150th in the European Cup.

Back came Bayern and the German side carved out a good opening in the 34th minute when Elber found Salihamidzic from Thomas Strunz's deep cross, but the Bosnian's shot did not trouble Schmeichel.

Beckham pressed the self-destruct button once again in the 39th minute when he collected his second Champions' League booking and a one-match ban for a foul on Stefan Effenberg.

Salihamidzic must have thought he had restored Bayern's lead three minutes before the interval when he received Elber's ball and turned and fired at close range at Schmeichel, but the Dane and Sheringham managed to scramble the ball away for a corner. Bayern began the second half just as they had started the first and Lizarazu fired over from outside the area after United only half cleared Effenberg's corner.

United, who had opened their campaign with a 3-3 draw at home to Barcelona, stunned Bayern when Paul Scholes put them ahead in the 48th minute. The England midfielder appeared to use his hand when collecting Yorke's header but as Matthaus hesitated he burst past Markus Babbel and into the Bayern box to score past Kahn.

Bayern knew their Champions' League lives were on the line and Jens Jeremies unleashed a 20-yard drive at Schmeichel after 60 minutes as they tried to claw their way back. Bayern changed their front line when they took off Jancker and Salihamidzic and brought on Berkant Goktan and Ali Daei.

Goktan almost levelled when his shot was deflected just past the post before Effenberg went close from 25 yards. Elber wasted a glorious chance to equalise in the 71st minute when he shot wide from straight in front of goal - and the Brazilian knew it as he raised his hands to his head in disbelief.

United were now doing all the defending and Schmeichel produced a good block to deny Jeremies before the same player drove over from the resultant corner. Still Bayern pressed and Iranian Daei missed from six yards out from Elber's cross.

Then came the equaliser with just six seconds of normal time left - yet there was still time for Sheringham to almost snatch a winner for United when his header was well saved.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Alex Ferguson refused to blame Peter Schmeichel after his blunder denied Manchester United what would have been a vital Champions' League victory over Bayern Munich. The United goalkeeper misjudged Bixente Lizarazu's throw-in to allow Giovane Elber space to scramble home a last-minute equaliser in the Olympic Stadium.

United boss Ferguson, though, claimed it would be wrong to point the finger at Schmeichel after he had played so well during the rest of the Group D game.

"It was just an error of judgement," said Ferguson. "Peter decided to come for a ball and unfortunately he has missed it but that's one of these things that happens in football. His performance did not justify it and I don't think he deserves that. In a situation like that there is no point in blaming Peter Schmeichel and I thought he was magnificent tonight."

Dwight Yorke equalised Elber's opening goal for Bayern before Paul Scholes put United in front three minutes after half-time. United were just seconds away from a famous victory before Elber levelled, although Teddy Sheringham looked also to have got a touch, and Ferguson admitted it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"I thought we had got a good victory, but this is one of those things that comes along and kicks you in the teeth."

Ferguson was also full of praise for Sheringham, who was outstanding in only his second start for United this season.

"The reasons for playing Terry were two-fold," said Ferguson. "Firstly his experience and ability to link the play very well, but also we lacked aerial height in set-pieces and I thought he would also be important for that reason. I think his selection was justified by his performance."

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld felt his side should had had enough chances to win the game.

"We had a lot of chances, but we could not do it," he said. "It was the same against Brondby and in international football you can't win if you don't take your chances. Despite the draw I still think it's possible to get first (place) in this group. We have to beat Barcelona in our next game and if we do that we can progress."

TEAMS

Bayern Munich: Kahn, Matthaus, Babbel, Lizarazu, Strunz, Salihamdcic, Linke, Jeremies, Effenberg, Elber, Jancker.
Subs: Goktan for Jancker, Daei for Salihamdcic, Fink for Jeremies.
Scorers: Elber (11, 90)

Manchester United: Schmeichel, P Neville, Stam, G Neville, Irwin, Keane, Beckham, Blomqvist, Scholes, Sheringham, Yorke.
Subs: Cruyff for Blomqvist.
Scorers: Yorke (30), Scholes (49)

Referee: M Batta (France)