Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged Manchester United to keep their Champions League title defense alive by becoming the first English team to win in Porto.
Ferguson’s holders face an uphill struggle to reach the semi-finals after being held to a 2-2 draw by the Portuguese champions in Tuesday’s last eight first leg clash at Old Trafford.
Porto’s two away goals mean United need to win or earn an unlikely high-scoring draw at the Dragao Stadium next Wednesday to stay in the competition.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Ferguson admits it is a daunting prospect, especially given the woeful record of Premier League teams in Porto.
Arsenal lost 2-0 at the Dragao this season, while United have failed to return from Porto with a win twice under Ferguson and Liverpool and Chelsea have also been frustrated there.
“It’s a difficult job now because no British team has won in Porto,” Ferguson said. “We have to win the game. We’ve been good at firsts at this club so this is an occasion when we can be first again. We have a job to do.”
PHOTO: AFP
It could have been even worse for United after the Premier League leaders produced a lackluster display that saw them out-played for long periods.
Cristian Rodriguez had stunned Old Trafford when he took advantage of a mistake by Jonny Evans to drive home a fine low strike in the fourth minute.
Only a calamitous mistake by Porto defender Bruno Alves gave United a lifeline when his wayward backpass was finished by Wayne Rooney in the 15th minute.
PHOTO: REUTERS
United were close to snatching an undeserved victory after Carlos Tevez struck with a close range finish in the 85th minute, but Porto substitute Mariano punished John O’Shea’s weak header to equalize in the 89th minute.
Ferguson admitted United have only themselves to blame for their predicament after another careless display scarred by defensive errors.
After setting a record for consecutive cleansheets earlier this season, United have conceded 10 goals in four games and suddenly look vulnerable at the back. Porto exposed them time and again and could have killed the tie off with better finishing.
“We kept giving the ball away, we were nervous and it took half an hour to get going. But Porto were always a threat and they never stopped counter-attacking with numbers,” Ferguson said.
“The second goal was one we couldn’t afford to lose. When you are 2-1 up you have to see the game out,” he said. “Given the importance of the game it was a terrible goal to lose. We only have ourselves to blame. We can’t say it was a great goal.”
Ferguson hopes Evans will be back from his groin injury within a week, but he is far from certain to feature in Portugal.
And with Rio Ferdinand expected to miss Saturday’s trip to Sunderland with the groin injury that kept him out against Porto, United are beginning to show signs of wear and tear at just the wrong moment.
Porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira stopped short of doing a Jose Mourinho style jig of delight when Mariano scored his late equalizer. But Ferreira knows his side are on the verge of emulating the success of Porto’s Mourinho vintage, who knocked United out of Europe in 2004.
Their smooth passing and quick counter-attacks kept United on the back foot and Ferreira will try to convince his players they can do even better in the return.
“The result is good but nothing is sorted out yet. It is not worth much yet,” he said. “It is just a score that means we can go to the Dragao and compete with them.”
■VILLARREAL VS ARSENAL
AFP, VILLARREAL, SPAIN
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger saluted the mental strength of his young side after they came from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw at Villarreal on Tuesday to enhance their chances of progressing to the Champions League semi-finals.
Marcos Senna put Villarreal into a 10th minute lead before Arsenal equalized through a brilliant acrobatic goal from Emmanuel Adebayor on 65 minutes.
With the all-important away goal and home advantage Arsenal will start as slight favorites for the quarter-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium on April 15.
“This team have shown the whole season they are mentally very strong and when they have their backs to the wall, these young players always find an answer and never give up,” Wenger said.
“I believe we have created momentum. We are a very young team, but are capable of focussing,” he said.
“We have shown with the consistency we have in the English championship that we are able to concentrate every three days and at that age, that is a big quality to have,” Wenger said.
Arsenal were up against it, trailing to Senna’s early opening goal and were then handicapped by first half injuries to goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and defender William Gallas.
“Of course the injuries in the first half didn’t help our rhythm but Villarreal played really well, especially Senna and we came back well in the second-half,” said goal hero Adebayor.
Wenger admitted Villarreal were the better side in the first 45 minutes and that the Spaniards would not be underestimated for the second leg.
“Villarreal started stronger than us and the early goal made it very difficult,” Wenger said.
“We were happy to go into the break 1-0 down as we had a chance to reorganize after the injuries and in the second half, it was a great response from us and we dominated,” he said.
“The result puts us in a great position now, but we want to qualify at home and to repeat the type of performance we produced in the second half,” the Frenchman said.
Togo striker Adebayor won praise for his acrobatic equalizer as he controlled a Cesc Fabregas pass on his chest before a brilliant scissor kick volley into the corner.
“It was unexpected,” said Wenger. “At the start of the move his body was a bit in the wrong position to score, but he managed to turn that into an advantage for him.”
The injuries to Almunia and Gallas were one negative for Arsenal and neither player will be fit for the return leg.
“Gallas has a medial ligament injury,” Wenger said. “The initial diagnosis doesn’t appear to be very positive.”
“As for Almunia it is the second time he has twisted his right ankle, and generally that means a three week lay-off,” he said.
Another incident saw Fabregas apparently having coins thrown at him when taking corners.
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