Porto snatch late draw at Manchester United

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There was a throwback to 2004 as Porto registered a crucial late leveller.

New Delhi: There was a throwback to 2004 as Porto came from behind to register a crucial late leveller at Old Trafford. The visitors led through Rodriguez before goals from Rooney and Tevez turned the game into Manchester United's favour. However, Mariano Gonzalez had the last say.

First Half:

It took some time for the real Manchester United to stand up as the defending champions started as a pale shadow of their usual selves. United did not register a strike on target until after the ten minute mark, by which time Porto had made Edwin van der Sar work twice and pick the ball out of the net once.

After only two minutes, Lisandro Lopez turned Jonny Evans and tried van der Sar from distance, earning a corner. Porto's second effort, two minutes later, yielded a deserved goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo misplaced a pass while clearing a corner, the resulting cross saw Evans surrender his clearance to Cristian Rodriguez, who made no mistake. The Uruguayan buried a left-footer into the United bottom corner - the first goal conceded in this competition by van der Sar since last season's final.

Lisandro had another shot sting the palms of van der Sar following more sloppy defending, before United gradually got going, shaking the shackles of a uncharacteristically sloppy start.

Twelve minutes in and John O'Shea crossed sumptuously for Ronaldo to force Helton to work, and show Porto they were actually in a game. United were level moments later after a fatal error from Bruno Alves.

Under no pressure, the Portugal defender laid a back pass towards Helton but failed to spot Wayne Rooney behind him, who cleverly anticipated the ball through. He bid his time and chipped over the goalkeeper for parity.

Nonetheless, Porto stuck to their task; Lucho Gonzalez took a hold of proceedings temporarily too; he provided two good crosses in the space of a minute for Rodriguez, who headed at van der Sar, and Lisandro, who narrowly failed to make contact at the back post.

Rui Meireles was next to examine the credentials of van der Sar with a fine long ranger drive, and O'Shea's mistake allowed Hulk to bend the ball narrowly past the post on the half hour.

From there, it was United on top; Rooney used the length and breadth of Old Trafford to try and get things going. Paul Scholes too, was beginning to exercise a semblance of authority with his passing. United's best chance of the remainder fell to the veteran also; his header from Park's cross was just over the top.

Second Half:

United started as comfortably the better side after the break, enjoying a good deal more possession than they did in the previous 45 minutes. It took only five minutes for the hosts to trouble Helton, when Park Ji Sung's half-volley from the edge of the box forced the Brazilian to save.

Rooney was next to try his luck as Porto struggled to find a way out of their own half; the mercurial England forward executed a clever chip from an improbable angle outside the box, but Helton backtracked and tipped over.

From Ryan Giggs' corner, Nemanja Vidic made Helton work to give Giggs another chance to cross. From his second bite of the cherry, the Serb nodded off target.

Porto maintained their positivity and broke with relish whenever possible. Fernando exercised a discreet dominance in the centre of midfield while Cristian Rodriguez was becoming a linchpin, easing his side into enemy territory. He provided a chance for Hulk, who squeezed a shot wide after turning Evans.

Rodriguez then found Lisandro on the edge of the box, whose on-target effort forced United to concede a corner. Aly Cissokho picked up the rebound and struck powerfully on van der Sar's goal.

The Portuguese league leaders then had a legitimate call for a penalty; Hulk tricked Evra and escaped to the byline, as he tried to turn back into play, he was swept into the air by Carlos Tevez but no decision was forthcoming.

As the game ebbed towards the last 15 minutes, the Red Devils had a great chance to sneak a lead on the night; Gary Neville provided an accurate cross, with which Rooney was inches away from making contact.

The hosts ramped it up a notch and another inspired substitution gave Sir Alex Ferguson's side the advantage on the night. Gary Neville's throw caught Porto napping in their own area, and Wayne Rooney's back-flick found Carlos Tevez in front of Rolando to smash home from close range.

There was to be a twist in the tale though and more than a passing echo of 2004. Two minutes were on the clock when Lisandro jinked his way down Patrice Evra's flank, after the Portuguese side played themselves again into an attacking position. His back post cross found substitute Mariano Gonzalez, who bundled past van der Sar from close range.

Ryan Giggs' late free-kick whistled over the bar as United comtemplate a task achieved by no English side - winning in the Estadio Dragao.

Line-Ups:

Manchester United (4-3-3): van der Sar - Vidic, Evans (Neville 71'), O'Shea, Evra - Fletcher, Scholes (Giggs 71'), Carrick - Ronaldo, Park (Giggs 58'), Rooney

Porto (4-3-3): Helton - Bruno Alves, Rolando, Sapunaru, Cissokho - Fernando, Lucho, Meireles (Costa 78' (Madrid 90')) - Lisandro, Rodriguez (Mariano 78'), Hulk

Goals:

Manchester United: Rooney 15', Tevez 85'

Porto: Rodriguez 4', Mariano 88'

Cards:

Manchester United: -

Porto: Bruno Alves 75', Helton 90'

Referee: Konrad Plautz (AUT)