Manchester United strikers fail again
(sportinglife.com)
Updated: 2004-10-20 10:08

Manchester United lost pole position in Champions League Group D after a goalless draw against Sparta Prague.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (L) challenges Sparta Prague's Jiri Homola (R) during their Champions League Group D soccer match in Prague, October 19, 2004. [Reuters]

Lyon's 3-1 victory in Fenerbahce allowed the French outfit to move into the driving seat on a night when Sir Alex Ferguson's star-studded attack again failed to find the net.

It could have been a lot worse for the visitors had Sparta - in front of a rousing home crowd - converted the better of the first-half chances.

Zelenka should have broken the deadlock after 24 minutes but he flashed his shot wide after a neat move, while goalkeeper Roy Carroll was forced into a fine one-handed save as Old Trafford old-boy Karel Poborsky tried to break the net.

Jun also headed against the upright on the stroke of the interval.

United threatened only sporadically and all the evidence suggested Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy would need time to shine as a partnership. Sparta started in similar vein after the restart and Carroll again had to save from Poborsky while Vorisek had the Northern Ireland goalkeeper scrambling to gather the ball.

John O'Shea almost clipped a half-chance past Blazek but more defensive frailties allowed Jun to sneak past Wes Brown only to fire straight at Carroll's legs with the goal at his mercy.

Not even the introduction of Portugal flyer Cristiano Ronaldo and France livewire Louis Saha could inspire United, who lacked the craft and invention in the final third to punish a determined Sparta outfit.