Sport 28-08-2002 Manchester United Banish Opening Night Jitters who: Manchester United what: Beat Zalaegerszeg 5-0 in Champions` League qualifier where: Old Trafford, MANCHESTER when: Last night snippet: "Paul Scholes looks set to miss England`s friendly international against Portugal next month," reports The Evening Standard, "after injuring his ankle as Manchester United booked their place in the Champions League proper with an emphatic 5-0 win over Zalaegerszeg." After an embarrassing 1-0 defeat away from home, United returned to crushing form last night with two goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and one each for Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to make it 5-1 on aggregate. "I am not against a small team having their night," says manager Sir Alex Ferguson, in recognition of Zalaegerszeg`s first-leg victory, quoted in The Scotsman. "But they had it in Budapest. Tonight was our night." But there`s no shortage of bad news for United, says The Independent`s Alan Nixon, claiming that captain Roy Keane, who "soldiered on" through the pain of a damaged knee to get his club over last night`s crucial hurdle, will now almost certainly receive an operation that will take him off the team until December. "Keane`s absence would be a severe blow to United who also have defender Wes Brown and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez as long-term injuries." [... more]

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