PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Manchester United played one of their best performances to date in the Champions League in this 5-0 trouncing of Brondby. Beckham's goal was brilliant and it was also good to see Phil Neville getting on the score sheet."

MATCH REPORT

By David Anderson, PA Sport

Surely not even Alex Ferguson could find fault with this five-star performance? Two weeks ago in Copenhagen the Manchester United manager felt his side's play had been sloppy and careless as they trounced the Danish champions 6-2.

But there was no disputing United's class at Old Trafford as the rampant Reds ripped Brondby apart to put themselves within touching distance of the Champions' League quarter-finals. Granted there are stouter defences than Brondby's in Europe, but that should not detract from United, whose passing and finishing were breathtaking at times.

Just as in Denmark a fortnight ago, United won the game with another opening salvo and this time they blitzed the Danes with four goals inside the opening 28 minutes. It was United's third mauling of Brondby in just over three months and the Old Trafford outfit have also set a new Champions' League record of 16 goals in the group stages.

More importantly, though, United remain in pole position at the top of Group D going into their next match against Barcelona in the Nou Camp in three weeks' time after Bayern Munich claimed a 2-1 victory there while United were putting Brondby to the sword at Old Trafford. Going into this match Brondby coach Ebbe Skovdahl must have felt like Malcolm Nash did all those years ago when he faced Gary Sobers after being hit for six sixes.

Skovdahl's plight was not helped when Danish international goalkeeper Mogens Krogh pulled out before kick-off with a recurrence of a back injury. His place was taken by the relatively inexperienced Emeka Andersen, who before this appearance had played just 10 games for Brondby, and it showed.

Captain and former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen was back after suspension and his return to a more cautious 4-5-1 line-up should have helped shore up the gaps, which United so ruthlessly exposed in Copenhagen. But in practice Jensen made little difference as United tore through the Danes once again.

Andersen was found wanting for United's first after seven minutes when David Beckham beat the goalkeeper with a 30-yard free-kick. It was the England international's fourth of the season and his third from a free-kick.

Per Nielsen then headed against his own post and Andy Cole was denied by a last-ditch challenge before United netted their second in the 13th minute. Jesper Blomqvist found Cole, who played a one-two with Dwight Yorke, before tucking the ball home from an acute angle for his 13th goal on his 19th European appearance.

Phil Neville made it 3-0 after 15 minutes when he played a one-two with Yorke before ramming home his first Old Trafford goal.

Jaap Stam went close to a fourth with a header before Andersen produced a fine save to touch Cole's header over the bar. But the inevitable fourth goal came on 28 minutes courtesy of record signing Yorke. Blomqvist found Beckham on the right and he crossed for Yorke to head home, although Andersen made another howler as he let the ball squirm under his body.

Just after the half hour, United replaced Phil Neville, who had a hamstring injury, with Wes Brown, who had made way for Denis Irwin in the starting line-up. Peter Schmeichel, who was making his 50th European appearance against his former club, denied Brondby a consolation goal when he thwarted lone striker Ebbe Sand with his legs.

With the three points in the bag, Blomqvist was replaced by Jordi Cruyff at half-time after an excellent 45 minutes. Beckham was just inches away from a goal of the season contender seven minutes after the interval when he jinked his way through the Brondby defence before curling a shot narrowly side.

Cole then came off as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was given another run-out against the Danes. Paul Scholes kept the celebrations going for the home fans when he cut in from the right to tuck home a left-footed shot for goal number five on 62 minutes. It was the red-hot United's 26th goal in their last seven matches.

Cruyff, Yorke, Beckham and Solskjaer all went close to a sixth near the end, but for once United had to settle for just five.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Alex Ferguson saluted Manchester United's "magnificent" 5-0 Champions' League demolition job on Brondby at Old Trafford tonight. United, who had beaten the Danes 6-2 in Copenhagen, tormented them again to close in on a quarter final place.

The 5-0 win, secured by goals from David Beckham, Andy Cole, Phil Neville, Dwight Yorke and Paul Scholes, combined with Bayern Munich's 2-1 win away to Barcelona leaves United in a strong position to qualify from Group D. And a highly satisfied Ferguson had no complaints even though United lost their momentum in the second half after leading 4-0 at the break.

"We knew we had the game won at half-time (when the score was 4-0). We made a couple of changes and sometimes that's when the flow goes out of game," said Ferguson. "We did what was necessary and we produced some magnificent football in the first-half - I am very pleased. It was a good result for Bayern and now when they come here it is going to be some night."

TEAMS

Manchester United: Schmeichel, P Neville, Stam, G Neville, Irwin, Keane, Blomqvist, Scholes, Beckham, Cole, Yorke.
Subs: Brown for P Neville, Cruyff for Blomqvist, Solskjaer for Cole.
Scorers: Beckham (7), Cole (13), P Neville (15), Yorke (28), Scholes (62)

IF Brondby: Andersen, Nielsen, Rasmussen, Colding, Skarbaluis, Ravn, Bagger, Daugaard, Jensen, Bjur, Sand.
Subs: Thygesen for Bagger, Bo Hansen for Sand, Krogh for Bjur.

Referee: L Michel (Svk)