Manchester United held 2-2 by Porto

Man Utd's 2-2 draw at home to Porto has left them with a mountain to climb

Man Utd's 2-2 draw at home to Porto has left them with a mountain to climb

Manchester United face a tense battle to retain their place in this season's Champions League after failing to hold on to an 85th minute strike from Carlos Tevez.

Man U's Carlos Tevez scores in the 85th minute to make it 2-1

Although United were outplayed in the first half, Wayne Rooney's fortuitous 14th goal of the season had ensured the Red Devils were level heading into the final stages. In the 15th minute, defender Alves thought he was passing back to 'keeper Helton but unfortunately for the Portugal international, he had not bothered to look and instead found Rooney who netted the equaliser.

Tevez-Rooney combine
Then, after Tevez turned home Rooney's back-flick five minutes from time, Alex Ferguson's men must have thought they were through. But they lost concentration in defence and with just a minute left, Mariano found himself totally unmarked to finish off a cross from Lisandro.

Ferguson had played down the belief that his side had it easy. And even before scoring, Porto had served notice that their speed and slick passing game was going to be difficult to contain.

Lisandro drew an excellent save out of Edwin van der Sar after leaving Evans looking distinctly flat-footed.

And after one escape, Porto were in no mood to offer another. Lisandro swung over a cross that Evans should have dealt withu00a0 but he prodded the ball straight to Rodriguez, who took a stride forward and curled it into the bottom corner in the fourth minute of play.

Van der Sar superb
Lisandro tested Van der Sar again as United found themselves indebted the 38-year-old 'keeper time and again.

It was the same kind of mauling United inflicted on Inter Milan at the San Siro during the first leg of their last 16 meeting in February. Ferguson left Milan then wondering how his side had not come away victorious. Porto counterpart Jesualdo Ferreira must have felt the same.

Ferguson used the interval wisely judging by the way his team began the second period, showing a bit more of the finesse Old Trafford is used to. And United were rewarded when when Tevez turned home Rooney's sublime back-flick five minutes from time to make it 2-1. However, as the celebrations rang round the stadium, Porto powered up to the other end where Mariano did his own supersub impression, drifting into space at the far post to finish off Lisandro's cross.