The Reds looked all set to come home with a decent score draw but that all changed when, two minutes into injury time, Bayern striker Ivica Olic swept past a couple of defenders and finally beat the man who'd been a big obstacle all night, Edwin van der Sar.
United had led for the majority of the match, from Wayne Rooney's lightning strike in the second minute until Franck Ribery's free-kick equaliser in the 77th. But the home side were the better side on the night and will come to Old Trafford full of confidence.
The Reds' first attack produced the coveted away goal. Only fifteen seconds in, Nani was brought down by the masked Martin Demichelis close to the corner flag. The Argentine assailant was then found wanting as the winger’s free-kick, via a large deflection off Markus van Bommel, dropped into the six-yard box where Rooney volleyed triumphantly into the roof of the net.
It was a dream start for the Reds and it threatened to get even better as Sir Alex’s superior midfield unit sliced through the Bayern rearguard and presented Nani with an opportunity of his own. Unfortunately, he scuffed wide of the near post but the opening was encouraging, as was his right-wing cross that skimmed off the bar.
With the injured Arjen Robben forced to watch from the stands, Bayern were pinning their hopes on Franck Ribery. There were several flashes of danger fromthe French international inside the first half-hour - a low drive well held by van der Sar, a majestic ball through the heart of United’s defence that Hamit Altintop couldn’t kill, and a searing run down the left flank past Gary Neville. On the last attack, Ribery’s cross was punched only half-clear by van der Sar and when Altintop bounced the ball back into the middle, Olic should have done better than divert it wide.
Bayern stayed on the boil to force another van der Sar save through Danijel Pranjic’s long-range effort. But the closest this absorbing first half came to producing a second goal was when Fletcher floated a superb cross in from the left to Rooney, who pulled the ball down but fired too close to Butt, enabling the keeper to block his shot. It was a big chance – the sort you can rue if the opposition comes back to bite you.
Ribery and Bayern came flying out of the traps and won two corners within two minutes of the restart, when van der Sar thwarted Olic’s effort from a tight angle and Daniel Van Buyten’s shot was diverted wide. The United keeper had to make three further saves before the hour mark, to keep out two shots from Thomas Muller – one wickedly deflected off Vidic’s inside leg – and a stringing strike from Altintop after he wriggled past a couple of defenders.
Silenced early on by Rooney’s lightning strike, the Bayern supporters were beginning to find their voices with the game, if not the score, in the grip of their improving team. But for all their possession, the best they could throw at United was long-range shots – like the Pranjic effort which the slidingScholes diverted onto the roof of the net.
Sir Alex shuffled his attacking pack for the last 20 minutes, sending on Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia for Ji-sung Park and Michael Carrick. But the next opportunity again fell to Bayern as Muller backheeled inside the box to Olic and van der Sar tipped the Croatian’s shot around the post. The Dutchman was also called into action at the corner, pushing it away to give United some respite.
Louis Van Gaal’s first change was well received by the home crowd, Germany striker Mario Gomez making his return from injury as a substitute for Muller. But a greater roar would follow moments later when Bayern’s pressure finally paid off.
Neville’s handling of the ball just outside the box received double punishment - a yellow card and then the equaliser as Ribery’s free-kick clipped off the defensive wall to leave van der sar stranded. So unlucky for United, 13 minutes from time.
Sir Alex responded by sending on Ryan Giggs and there was almost an instant dividend as Nemanja Vidic powered a header against the crossbar from the Welshman’s first corner. At the other end, van der Sar made his best save in injury time, tipping away a Gomes shot. But Bayern were not finished and when Olic broke into the box, he fired home clinically. A horrible end for the Reds was compounded by Rooney limping off with an injury - here's to a quick recovery as United bid to turn this difficult tie around.