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. 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 thinterfinal on Tuesday, with Bastian Schweinsteik 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." ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays have reinstated centre fielder
Desmond Jennings from the bereavement list and optioned reliever Brandon Gomes
to Triple-A Durham.dddddddddddd The moves were announced before Tuesday nights
game against Oakland. Jennings was in Tuesdays starting lineup after missing two
games.
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