Bayern and Man Utd stay on course for 1999 repeat

Holders Bayern Munich missed a penalty but scored twice in the last eight minutes to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a classic Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday, Claudio Pizarro getting the winner in the 88th minute.

Bayern's victory kept alive the chance of a repeat of the 1999 final after Manchester United, who beat the Germans in injury time three years ago, produced a superb performance to win 2-0 in Spain against Deportivo Coruna.

United, who had lost twice to Coruna in the group stages, won thanks to a brilliant long-range effort by David Beckham and a tap-in for Ruud van Nistelrooy, the competition's top scorer with nine goals.

It was United's first win in a European away leg in Spain in 13 attempts and their first away win in six successive Champions League quarter-finals.

However, the victory was soured by injuries to Beckham and inspirational captain Roy Keane, the Irish international captain definitely out for at least a month.

Bayern had to show all their famed resilience against Real after the Spaniards, with Zinedine Zidane at his brilliant best and Argentine Santiago Solari also full of swagger, dominated the first half.

Their well-deserved goal came after 12 minutes when Cameroonian Geremi squeezed a low shot past Oliver Kahn.

But Bayern, who beat Real home and away in last year's semifinals, turned things round in the second half.

The introduction of Bosnian Hasan Salihamidzic added pace to the home attack and he earned the penalty that Effenberg shot straight at Cesar.

LOOSE BALL

However, the midfielder made amends when he scored from close range in the 82nd minute and Pizarro completed the comeback when he seized on a loose ball to shoot home from the edge of the box.

"My team showed great morale and self-belief," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. "The victory was well-deserved because of the second half."

Hitzfeld singled out playmaker Effenberg for particular praise for the way he came back after missing the penalty.

"Effenberg never gives up, even if things are going against him. His goal was important not just for him but for the whole team."

Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque was disappointed after his side's early dominance.

"We are very hurt by this result," he said after his side's sixth defeat in seven matches against Bayern.

"The game had gone as we expected, but just when it looked as though we had them under control and they appeared to have used up their energies they came back with some direct football that won them the game."

Manchester United are a different team from the one which lost twice to Deportivo earlier in the season and produced one of their best European displays for years.

England captain Beckham conjured his goal out of nothing after 15 minutes, catching Jose Molina off his line with a stunning shot from 30 metres.

NINE GOALS

Van Nistelrooy added the second four minutes before the break when he turned in a Mikael Silvestre cross to make it nine goals in the Champions League this season.

Deportivo, who have played some sparkling football at home and in Europe in recent weeks, found it impossible to penetrate United's defence, superbly led by Ronny Johnsen and Laurent Blanc.

They were generally restricted to long range efforts and United had the clearer chances in the second half -- Ryan Giggs wasting the two best.

The tie is not all over yet, however, as United will be without Keane, who damaged a hamstring, and suspended Paul Scholes for the second leg.

Beckham, flattened by a wild Diego Tristan tackle in the last minute, is likely to have an x-ray on a damaged ankle on Wednesday.

"It was marvellous, a great performance and I'm very proud," United manager Alex Ferguson said.

"We should have won by four or five actually, Ryan Giggs had two great chances."

Van Nistelrooy added: "If you score two in the first half and have the opportunity to score two or three more in the second in the away leg of a Champions League quarter-final, then it is a great performance." Deportivo boss Javier Irureta refused to rule out his side's chances. "If we score early on we have a chance," he said. "It's going to be very difficult, though."

Wednesday's quarter-finals see Panathinaikos host Barcelona and Liverpool take on Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.