19 March 2002
BAYERN MUNICH 2-1 NANTES
Armand released Ahamada with a superb pass as Nantes broke from a corner. Linke couldn't make up his mind whether to go for the ball or cover his
'keeper, Kahn decided to come of his line, Linke ran into the box, Ahamada's shot bounced off Kahn and Linke missed the ball as it rolled
into the net. Absolutely pathetic defending. Jeremies headed Tarnat's cross into the ground but it bounced over a helpless Grondin. Grondin
saved a penalty from Pizzaro but the striker made amends with a fine volley from Salihamidzic's cross minutes from time.
Bayern's defence is shite. Fortunately Salihamidzic is back and if he maintains the form he showed prior to injury Bayern will be difficult
to beat.
Assists : Armand, Linke, Salihamidzic
BOAVISTA 0-3 MAN UNITED
Blanc volleyed Man United into the lead from a Beckham corner. Their second came from a counter attack. Giggs' shot was saved by Ricardo but Solskjaer
turned in the rebound. Scholes took a dive in the box after Martelinho clipped his heels. Beckham smashed the ball past Ricardo.
Assists : Beckham (corner), Scholes (pen)
13 MARCH 2002
NANTES 1-1 BOAVISTA
Silva slipped as he kicked the ball deep inside his own half, the ball bounced off Pedro and Moldovan snapped at Silva's heels before he could clear, raced
into the box and shot in off Ricardo. Martelinho pulled down a long ball with an outstanding first touch and calmly stroked it past Landreau. Nantes caught
Boavista on the counter attack as they ploughed forward looking for the winner. Vahirua ran half the length of the field and centred for Da Rocha
who shot wide with an open goal at his mercy. Possibly one of the worst misses ever.
Assist : ?
24 FEBRUARY 2002
MAN UNITED 5-1 NANTES
Nantes took an early lead for the second successive week. Andre received the ball from a throw in, whipped a cross into the box , Irwin ball watched and
Da Rocha was left with an easy finish. Beckham equalised seconds later with a typically superb free kick. Solskjaer scored the first of his two goals on the
day he turned 29 with a close range header after good work by Van Nistelrooy and Giggs. Silvestre headed in Man United's third from Beckham's wicked,
wicked free kick. Van Nistelrooy scored his 30th goal of the season from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box by Fabbri. Solskjaer was credited
with Man United's fifth but I'm still not convinced that he made contact with Beckham's free kick.
Van Nistelrooy was told that he became the first Man United player since Brain McCair to score 30 goals in a season. The blank expression on his
face was priceless, I'm sure he was thinking to himself 'who the **** is Brain McClair?". And before anyone replies, I know who he is and he
sucked.
Taggart needs to send out a search party for Veron - he was AWOL again.
Assists : Andre, Giggs (x2), Beckham (x2)
20 FEBRUARY 2002
NANTES 1-1 MAN UNITED
Nantes stunned the English Champions with a scrappy early goal. Moldovan tried his luck from outside the box, his shot took a wicked deflection
off Blanc and fell to Quint, Quint's cross deflected off Beckham, Vahirua couldn't re-adjust in time and Moldovan's scuffed shot rolled past a
helpless Barthez. Fraud Veron decided to play the ball back to Barthez from the half way line, Vahirua raced away, got goal side of donkey
Neville and hit a great shot but Barthez pulled off a spectacular save. Van Nistelrooy smashed the ball against a post after a superb pass from
Keane and he missed an even better chance when put clean through by Beckham. Moldovan skinned Silvestre on the right before pulling the ball back
to Vahirua but he dragged his shot wide of the post. Landreau made great saves from Van Nistelrooy and Giggs as United poured forward in the second
half. Barthez denied Quint what would have been a certain winning goal with a World Class save. Not to be outdone Landreau made an even better stop
from Scholes point blank diving header. Yepes threw away the points and any chance of a place in the quarter-finals with a mindless handball. Landreau
guessed right but Van Nistelrooy put too much pace on his penalty kick.
Both 'keepers were fantastic. Great match.
5 DECEMBER 2001
MAN UNITED 3-0 BOAVISTA
Barthez made spectacular saves from Duda and Petit. Ironically United scored after a defensive mistake. Phil Neville stole the ball off a defender,
played a one two with Veron and centred for Van Nistelrooy, 1-0. Blanc, who has unfairly been made the scapegoat for Ferguson's inept tactics,
headed United's second from a Veron corner. Van Nistelrooy scored a second on the counter attack, Dwight 'Love Machine' Yorke with a great
pass.
Assists : P Neville, Veron, Yorke
20 NOVEMBER 2001
BAYERN MUNICH 1-1 MAN UNITED
Terrible match. Effenberg was back and seemed to slow Bayern's attack down to a snail's pace. Silvestre was involved in both goals. He found himself in
acres of space down the left flank and sent a perfect cross into the box for Van Nistelrooy to tap past Khan. His poor attempt to cut out Jancker's pass
gave fellow donkey Paulo Sergio the equaliser.
Assist : Silvestre