Olympiacos vs Manchester United
Who won: Man United 3-2
Manchester United beat Olympiacos 3-2 on Wednesday, October 23, 2002 at Yorgos Karaiskakis Stadium. Goals for Olympiacos: Lambros Choutos (70') and Predrag Djordjevic (74'). Goals for Man United: Laurent Blanc (21'), Juan Sebastián Verón (59') and Paul Scholes (84').
Play by play
United's next match is against Maccabi Haifa in the G S Pancypria Stadium on Tuesday. Join Soccernet for live commentary.
Olympiakos showed great spirit to fight back, but in the end it was a losing start for manager Yiannis Kollias.
Three points for United, who top Group F with maximum points and have secured their place in the next phase of the Champions League.
- 90'
Referee Collina, who made some uncharacteristic poor decisions, blows for fulltime.
- 90'
....He hits a curling shot over the wall and unfortunately, from a Greek point of view, also over the bar.
- 90'
Could be the last chance for Olympiakos and Djordjevic, who has already scored one, stands over the freekick.......
- 89'
Choutos races towards goal again. Collina decides O'Shea blocked the striker and gives a freekick inches outside the box.
- 88'
Choutos is doing his best to get Olympiakos back into the match, but his throughball is cut out by Blanc.
- 87'
Richardson is tipped for big things at Old Trafford - Ferguson obviously believes in him.
- 86'
Richardson drives at subtitiute Niniadis with his first touch and wins a throw deep in Olympiakos' half.
- 86'
Scratch that. Ferguson is making a sub and number 41 Kieran Richardson makes his first team debut as Veron's replacement.
- 85'
United back in front. 3-2 and surely a Veron inspired United won't throw it away this time.
- 84'
...but the power takes it past the sprawling goalkeeper and thunders into the roof of the net. GOAL!!!!!
- 83'
....the little, ginger midfielder hammers the ball at Eleftheropoulos, who manages to get a hand to the ball.......
- 82'
Veron combines with Scholes on the left edge of the area. Veron back-heels the ball for Scholes to try another one of his specials......
- 81'
What a finish to a game that looked all over when Veron scored United's second.
- 80'
....his thundering strike smacks the post.
- 79'
Now it's United's turn to attack. Forlan flicks the ball on for Scholes to shhot from distance....
- 78'
Scholes manages to get possession for United and relieve some late pressure from Olympiakos.
- 76'
Ofori Quaye finds space on the right of the United area, but his cross is to deep for Choutos.
- 75'
This is more like Olympiakos at home. 2-2 and the Greek side are really going for it. Hard to believe after United's dominance.
- 74'
....He drives the ball past Barthez's desperate dive and into the back of the net. GOAL!!!!!
- 73'
Djordjevic drives at the United defence, who keep backing off, and he opens himself up for the shot.......
- 72'
Olympiakos make a change and Ofori Quaye replaces Zetterberg. Kollias will be hoping his sub shows more effort than United's, who have looked sloppy.
- 71'
....The little strike tucks the ball in the corner of the net and Olympiakos have a lifeline. GOAL!!!!!
