Champions League » Rustu keeps out Manchester United

Rustu keeps out Manchester United

Turkish goalkeeping legend stops the Red Devils

It wasn’t a classic match by any means and it was a Manchester United reserve team but Rustu was the difference in injury time. Two absolutely tremendous saves from Macheda and Wes Brown ensured that United slipped to a home Champions League defeat, which is never a pleasant feeling.

Especially when the club had went 23 games unbeaten at Old Trafford in Europe’s top tournament.

United fans will point to the fact that they were denied a strong penalty claim when the referee waved away the appeals of Patrice Evra when he was obstructed in the box. To be honest, it was more of an obstruction that an out and out foul but the Besiktas defender made no move to play the ball, merely block the Manchester United player.

Given that they had already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, the defeat is hardly earth shattering but one of the things that will annoy people is how many football coupons were burst. Manchester United at home is a betting favourite for many fans and you know they would have featured in many accumulators for this midweek.

Alex Ferguson will be angry, probably not due to losses in bookmaker winnings but in the fact that his second-string of players are not good enough. The loss of Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United lacking and if their key players are out, they look like struggling.

This means a string of injuries could decimate United in the way that Liverpool look bereft of anything worthy when their two stars are out.

No great damage to Manchester United but it will be a sore defeat to take.