Sport 11-10-2001 Greeks Feel Beckham`s Sting Once Again who: Manchester United what: Beat Olympiakos 0-2 in Champions` League Group G where: Greece when: Last night snippet: "Was Sir Alex Ferguson really thinking of leaving out David Beckham?" ponders Daniel Taylor in The Guardian. "We may never know," he continues. But despite rumours that the England captain would be too emotionally drained after Saturday`s England game to turn out for Manchester United against Olympiakos in the Champions` League last night, Beckham not only played but displayed "another example of his impeccable timing" by putting United into the lead in the 66th minute. "This was his seventh goal of an extraordinary season and three of them have taken England to the Far East and given Sir Alex Ferguson six points in his final Champions` League campaign," noted The Independent`s Tim Rich. "Had they lost, Manchester United would have been bottom of their group, this morning they are top and the grand plan is entirely on course after the hiccup in Spain." Andy Cole came on in the 80th minute and his partnership with Ruud Van Nistelrooy was fruitful almost immediately, making it 0-2 and the Greek side`s first ever home defeat in European competition. "I thought it was a marvellous performance," said Sir Alex Ferguson afterwards. "We played some great football and kept our patience, which is important in big games. All the players worked very hard. I thought our collective football was very, very good." [... more]

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