VIEWS FROM THE PRESS BOX

Last updated : 30 October 2002 By Editor

A vastly under-strength Manchester United side were humbled here last night as Maccabi Haifa ended the English side's 16-match unbeaten Champions' League run. Yaniv Katan put the home side in front with a fearsome strike before the interval and, after Diego Forlan had struck the crossbar, Raimondas Zutautas repeated the feat after 56 minutes. United battled hard but Yakubu Ayegbeni completed their misery when he tucked home a penalty after Ricardo had brought down Zutautas.

With qualification already assured after victories in their opening four Group F matches, a combination of injury and tiredness saw nine key figures left at home, including Roy Keane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy. As a result, the United manager, Alex Ferguson, was left with a squad bereft of experience.

The Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo also made his first start, deputising for Fabien Barthez. The United substitutes' bench included just two men who had started more than two first-team games in their entire career, with the 17-year-old striker Mads Timms in the squad for the first time.

Richardson started on the left-hand side of United's midfield, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the right, Quinton Fortune in a central position and Paul Scholes providing the attacking support to Diego Forlan. It worked in the opening stages, though, with Fortune playing some penetrating passes.

Worse was to follow, 14 minutes from time, when Ricardo seemed slow reacting to Katan's through ball and chopped down Zutautas. The Maccabi man was still receiving treatment behind the goal-line when Ayegbeni stepped up to send the United keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.