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October 11, 2001

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Beckham upsets Greeks again

David Beckham proved the scourge of Greece again on Wednesday as his opening goal helped Manchester United to beat Olympiakos Piraeus 2-0 -- the Greek side's first home defeat in 14 Champions League games.

The victory took United to the top of group G on six points as Deportivo Coruna were held to a 1-1 draw by a late equaliser from Lille in a match played at Lens.

Defending champions Bayern Munich were also held, 2-2 at Feyenoord, allowing Sparta Prague to go two points clear in group H with a 2-0 home win over Spartak Moscow.

Bayer Leverkusen chalked up their third successive victory, 2-1 at home to Fenerbahce, to stay top of group F, three ahead of Barcelona who beat Olympique Lyon in Spain.

Celtic moved top of group E with a 1-0 home win over Rosenborg as Juventus were held to a goalless draw at Porto.

Manchester United had won only one of their last 10 away games in Europe while Olympiakos had never lost in 13 home Champions League games and there was little between the two in the first half.

But United found an extra gear after the break, inspired by Argentine midfielder Juan Veron.

David Beckham The opening goal came in the 66th minute when Beckham, who scored the last-minute equaliser against Greece on Saturday that took England to the World Cup finals, arrived at the far post to touch in a Ryan Giggs cross.

Andy Cole came on as a 79th minute substitute and got the second three minutes later.

It was his 23rd European goal making him the highest scoring Englishman in European competitions, overtaking fellow United man Bobby Charlton and Tottenham Hotspur's Martin Chivers.

LAST DITCH

United were undone by Deportivo's late goals last time out but it was the Spaniards' turn to suffer on Wednesday as a last ditch equaliser by substitute Adekanmi Olufade earned Lille a point.

Lille missed several good early chances before Juan Carlos Valeron put the hosts ahead in the 49th minute.

United (six points) host Deportivo (five) in their next match. Lille have four points with Olympiakos on one.

Leverkusen maintained their 100 percent record when a second-half goal from Michael Ballack gave them a 2-1 victory over 10-man Fenerbahce, who suffered their third straight defeat.

WASTED CHANCES

Midfielder Haim Revivo had the Turks ahead early with their first goal of the competition but Leverkusen had wasted several chances by the time Brazilian defender Lucio equalised from the edge of the penalty area in the 36th minute.

Seconds later Fenerbahce's Ghanaian defender Samuel Johnson was sent off for his second bookable offence.

Barcelona struck twice in the last 12 minutes to see off a stubborn Lyon after the French side had looked to have earned a draw.

Patrick Kluivert nodded in the first and then won a penalty, converted by Rivaldo with four minutes to go to leave the Spanish side second in group F behind Leverkusen on six points.

Sparta Prague continued to make the running in group H with a comfortable home win over Spartak that leaves them as the only team in the 16 in action this week yet to concede a goal.

After dominating the first half, second half goals from Marek Kincl and Libor Sionko earned all three points.

Sparta have now gone eight matches without conceding a goal in any competition since August 19.

Brazilian striker Elber came to the rescue of injury-hit Bayern Munich with two goals in Rotterdam.

Elber put the holders ahead in the 12th and then hit an equaliser early in the second half for a Bayern side missing Stefan Effenberg, Mehmet Scholl and Jens Jeremies.

Pierre van Hooijdonk and Jon Dahl Tomasson, in first half injury time, had put the Dutch side ahead.

Sparta top the group with seven points ahead of Bayern (five), Feyenoord (two) and Spartak (one).

Celtic are enjoying their first appearance in the Champions League group stages as an early free kick by Alan Thompson gave the Scots a well-deserved home win over Rosenborg and top spot in group E.

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