A team of Manchester United legends recorded a 4-2 victory over their Bayern Munich counterparts at Old Trafford this afternoon.
The two sides played out a 3-3 draw last August at the Allianz Arena, when United's goals were scored by Andy Cole, who bagged a brace, and captain Paul Scholes.
The duo were in the United starting lineup again today and both featured predominantly during what was an eventful opening 45 minutes.
Dwight Yorke had already spurned two chances for the home team when they broke the deadlock in the ninth minute. It was the Trinidadian's cross that Hans-Jorg Butt in the Bayern goal could only push as far as Louis Saha, and the French striker punished the error by sending his bouncing effort into the far corner of the net.
Scholes, once again skippering the United team, had been their most creative player throughout the early exchanges, but it was his mistake that allowed the Bayern veterans to level proceedings in the 16th minute.
The midfielder's intended pass back for keeper Edwin van der Sar was cut out by Alexander Zickler, who showed good composure to round the Dutchman and leave himself with the easiest of finishes.
Almost instantly, Yorke missed another opportunity when he fired straight at Butt six yards from goal, but five minutes before the break, he did manage to get his name on the scoresheet.
It seemed that Bayern had escaped the danger when Park Ji-Sung's header from Quinton Fortune's cross had been saved by Butt, only for Yorke to bundle in the loose ball from close range.
Yet, the scores would be level just two minutes later courtesy of former Manchester City defender Michael Tarnat, who drilled in a low free kick after Dion Dublin had fouled Paulo Sergio 20 yards from goal.
There was to be another twist before the whistle was blown for the break, though, as the Red Devils took the lead for the third time. Jesper Blomqvist and Park linked inside the Bayern area to free Cole and the frontman was able to curl his shot into the far corner, despite Butt's best attempt to keep the ball out.
As the second half wore on, the players, particularly those in Bayern colours, started to tire. However, they should have drawn level on the hour mark when Sergio's free kick rattled the crossbar, only for Zickler to head the rebound over with the goal at his mercy.
It ended up being a costly miss from the German because, with seven minutes remaining, United winger Karel Poborsky broke clear down the right flank. His low cross picked out an unmarked Blomqvist, leaving the Swede with a routine finish to score United's fourth and final goal of the contest.
Liam Apicella
