MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United confounded grim pre-game predictions by drawing 1-1 with Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, with Bastian Schweinsteiger equalizing for the holders before being sent off.
Andre Ethier Jersey . Floundering in the English Premier League, United has delivered better performances in Europe this season and stunned Bayern by taking the lead against the run of play through Nemanja Vidics header in the 58th minute. Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week. "We score away, so its good," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. "Im happy with the result." Schweinsteiger blotted his performance by picking up a second yellow card in the 90th minute for a foul on Wayne Rooney and will miss the return match along with fellow midfielder Javi Martinez, who will also be suspended for an accumulation of bookings. Guardiola warned that talk of Uniteds demise was premature -- and the man who turned Barcelona into the best team in the world from 2008-12 has proved to be a good judge of football over the past few years. The English champions are languishing in seventh place in the Premier League amid a disastrous first year under new manager David Moyes, but they have an envious European pedigree and didnt buckle under constant pressure from Bayern. Defending stoutly -- with Vidic and right back Phil Jones particularly impressive -- United had 174 passes in the game compared to Bayerns 701 but actually created the better of the chances. Danny Welbeck will rue the moment he was sent clean through in the 40th, capitalizing on Jerome Boatengs defensive mistake, but fluffed a chip into the goalkeepers arms rather than going for a truer strike. Bayern played the prettier football, as expected, but United goalkeeper David de Gea barely had a shot to save before or after Schweinsteigers sweetly struck effort from Mario Mandzukics nod-down. "Tonights performance was more than youd hope for," Moyes said. "Hopefully tonight shows we will go there and go toe to toe with them. "Our best football has been in this competition and we will need to show our best football next week." The nights other quarterfinal first leg also finished 1-1, with Barcelona coming from a goal down to draw at home to Atletico Madrid. With Bayern having become Europes new powerhouse over the past two years and United without its main striker in Robin van Persie, many predicted the home-and-away series would be a blow-out. In the end, Bayern was somewhat fortunate to be leaving Manchester with its record of scoring in every match this season intact. Uniteds ambition was limited -- it had to be, given it hardly saw the ball -- but the teams desire and work rate couldnt be faulted. Moyes fielded a patched-up defence with Patrice Evra suspended and Rafael da Silva a late withdrawal but he got his tactics largely spot on, although United has probably never been dominated in possession at Old Trafford as much as it was in the first half. It was Bayerns attack vs. Uniteds defence, and Uniteds defence will feel it won the battle. "It is not easy when the opponent sets up so deep and closes down space," Munich winger Arjen Robben said. "After they took the lead, we should be happy to take a 1-1 home." There were times when the home fans fell deathly silent, perhaps mesmerized, as Bayerns bubbly midfield splayed the ball around in long periods of possession. But Moyes side kept its shape well, with Vidic delivering his best performance of an otherwise shaky season. He popped up at the other end to score Uniteds goal, too, the Serbian given the freedom of the penalty box to flick a header into the bottom corner from Rooneys left-wing corner. The lead didnt last long, though, as Rafinha sped by Robben on the overlap and crossed deep for substitute Mario Mandzukic, who headed the ball down for Schweinsteiger to sweep a half-volley into the top corner. The midfielder had already been booked for a foul on Michael Carrick when he brought down Rooney with seconds left of normal time. He protested, wagging his finger at Rooney and claiming the striker dived, but Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo had already brandished the yellow card. "I think coming into the tie most people had Bayern had the favourites," Moyes said, "and rightly so -- they are the European champions. But this club is used to big European nights and tonight they showed it."
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Chase Utley Grey Jersey . Who are some of the funniest teammates youve played with? Hartnell was pretty funny. Matt Greene, when I was in L.A. he was really funny it was comical. SAN DIEGO -- Jason Marquis almost was forced out of the game in the sixth inning again -- albeit for a much different reason. This time, he stayed on the mound and led Washington to the victory. Marquis threw six strong innings to help the Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Friday night. Michael Morse hit a two-run homer in the second inning and Marquis was cruising before the Padres rallied in the sixth. Ryan Ludwick walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, but Marquis responded by striking out highly touted rookie Anthony Rizzo on a nasty full-count changeup and getting Jorge Cantu to bounce out to end the inning. "We call those man pitches," Nationals closer Drew Storen said. "Youve got to man up there, and he did. He made that man pitch, and it was fun to watch." Rizzo made his major league debut Thursday night after being promoted from Triple-A Tucson. But its doubtful that the 21-year-old Rizzo saw many pitches in the minors like the ones he saw in the sixth. "I feel confident in all my pitches right now," Marquis said. "Ive been working hard to be able to throw them in any count. I wasnt giving in, in that situation. I didnt want to leave one out over the plate with the power hes shown in Triple-A and the pitch he hit off Livan." Rizzo hammered a tripled off the centre-field fence against Livan Hernandez in his debut, missing a homer by a few feet. But Marquis got the rookie this time. "He threw a great pitch there, a great changeup," Rizzo said. "My heart was racing a little bit. I tried to slow it down. It was a good at-bat, but it was a pitchers pitch that I couldnt do anything with." Marquis (7-2) picked up right where he left off last Sunday at Arizona when he shut out the Diamondbacks through 5 1-3 innings before he was ejected for hitting Justin Upton with a pitch. He was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount. But he appealed and is able to pitch until there is a decision. Marquis held the Padres without a hit uuntil Ludwicks leadoff double in the fifth.
Chase Utley Authentic Jersey. The right-hander allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked three. Morse staked Marquis to a lead with a drive off Mat Latos (4-7) for his 10th homer. Lance Nix led off with single, then Morse hit a 1-2 fastball into the left-field seats. Morse has homered eight times in his last 18 games. Tyler Clippard pitched two hitless innings and Storen worked the ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances to complete the four-hitter. Washington had only four hits, just two coming after Morses homer. The Padres loaded the bases in the sixth on Chris Denorfias one-out double, a single by Jason Bartlett and a walk to Brad Hawpe. Ludwick drew a full-count walk to bring home San Diegos only run. "He got really tested in the sixth inning, that was tough," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said of Marquis. "Baserunners all over the place, a lot of pitches, a very stressful inning. But to come out of it with one run, thats good veteran pitching right there." Rizzo walked twice and was hit by a pitch, finishing 0 for 1 with a strikeout. The first baseman committed an error in the ninth inning on a ground ball. Latos, who won his previous three starts, gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. San Diego, which had won nine of 13 games, dropped to an NL-worst 14-24 at home. The Nationals won for just the third time in eight games. NOTES: Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg, last years rookie sensation, threw a bullpen session. Strasburg, a San Diego native who attended San Diego State, is on the mend from right elbow surgery in September. "Where hes at is nine months into a 12-to-18 month (rehab) process," Riggleman said. ... San Diego signed first-round draft pick Cory Spangenberg. The 20-year-old Spangenberg was the 10th overall pick and became the first first-rounder to sign. ... The Nationals placed RHP Cole Kimball (shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day disabled list. RHP Ryan Mattheus was brought up from Triple-A Syracuse.
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