United win amid angry scenes

Tuesday, 20, Feb 2007 11:27

Manchester United picked up a crucial 1-0 away win against Lille as their Champions League encounter threatened to descend into farce after the French team's protests at the late winner.

Ryan Giggs won the game after curling an 83rd-minute free-kick round a half-assembled defensive wall and past a startled Tony Sylva in the home goal.

Lille's complaints, fuelled by the controversial disallowing of an earlier 'goal' in their favour, nearly ended with them walking off the pitch, before calmer heads prevailed and the match continued.

Problems between the police and Manchester United fans caused by the overfilling of one section of the visitors' stand overshadowed much of what happened on the pitch in an unexceptional first half.

A fragmented opening period was punctuated with a succession of bookings for both sides as a Wayne Rooney half-chance was as close as the game came to an opener.

The England international was at the centre of the Red Devils' most promising raids in the second half and soon slipped in fellow youngster Cristiano Ronaldo, only to see the chance evaporate.

On 62 minutes the referee ruled out a header from Peter Odemwingie for a slight push on centre-back Nemanja Vidic, much to the home side's disgust, but their ire was doubled when he allowed Giggs' opportunism to settle the match 20 minutes later.