Scholes saves United against Panathinaikos

ATHENS, March 7. Paul Scholes snatched a dramatic  injury-time equaliser for Manchester United on Wednesday as they drew 1-1 with Panathinaikos in Group A of the Champions League.

Giorgios Seitaridis, 19, crashed home a shot from outside the area in the 25th minute for Panathinaikos, who went on to dominate the match despite being out of the reckoning for the quarter-finals.  Panathinaikos could easily have further ahead at the break, as they exposed a static United defence, and only two more remarkable saves by United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in the second half kept the scoreline down. But the English champions with their by now familiar late flourish snatched an equaliser when Scholes turned well to hammer home through a packed goalmouth.

Alex Ferguson's men need to avoid a three-goal defeat next week against Sturm Graz to reach the quarter-finals, along with Wednesday night's qualifiers, Valencia. The Spaniards hammered Sturm 5-0 to knock United off the top of the group, though both clubs have nine points.

For Panathinaikos, an adventurous line-up paid dividends with 17-year-old Ghanaian prodigy Derek Boateng causing panic in the United defence with a series of penetrating runs throughout the game. Only timid finishing prevented the Athens side from finishing off United with Nikos Liberopoulos, Boateng and Angelos Basinas all failing in one-on-one situations with Barthez.

Liberopoulos elected to pass when he seemed certain to double the lead late in the first half, only to see strike partner Goran Vlaovic flagged offside.

Greek under-21 international Seitaridis, making his Champions League debut, grew in confidence after the goal, putting in an accomplished performance in an unfamiliar right-back position. Valencia and Galatasaray take their places in last eight

LONDON, March 7 - Valencia and Galatasaray secured their places in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday although Deportivo Coruna stole their thunder on the night with an astonishing 4-3 victory over Paris St Germain after being 0-3 down.

Valencia, runners-up to Real Madrid in last season's European Cup final, thrashed Sturm Graz 5-0 away to ensure they cannot finish lower than second in Group A -- even if they lose to Panathinaikos in their final group match next week.

Goals from substitute Diego Alonso (2), Fabian Ayala, John Carew and Kily Gonzalez demolished the Austrians, who were reduced to 10 men when Gilbert Prilasnig was sent off after 35 minutes for a professional foul on Carew.

Former champions Manchester United are likely to qualify with Valencia after they stole a point with a Paul Scholes goal in the second minute of stoppage time in a 1-1 draw at Panathinaikos. The Greek side, playing just for pride after already being eliminated, were on superb form and only a great performance from United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez stopped them winning.

Teenager Giorgios Seitaridis scored for the home side after 25 minutes and they looked set for their first ever win over an English side at the 10th attempt, until Scholes's late strike.

United will almost certainly reach the last eight when they face Sturm Graz at Old Trafford next week -- but if they were to somehow lose by three clear goals, Sturm would qualify alongside Valencia in United's place.  Valencia top the group with nine points, the same number as Alex Ferguson's side, but the Spaniards are top as they have the better head-to-head record against United. Sturm have six points and Panathinaikos have two.

HISTORIC

Galatasaray, who last year became the first Turkish side ever to win a European competition when they beat Arsenal to lift the UEFA Cup, made more history, albeit a little more modestly, on Wednesday. Their 2-0 win over AC Milan in Istanbul means they have become the first Turkish side to qualify for the last eight of the Champions League -- although they did reach the semifinals of the old European Cup in 1989.

Goals from Gheorghe Hagi (19) and Mario Jardel (86) gave Galatasaray the points and they were well worth their victory over Milan, champions of Europe five times in the past.

Galatasaray cannot finish lower than second in the group even if they lose their final match at Paris St Germain next week.

PSG were involved in the most remarkable match of the night when they were beaten 4-3 by Deportivo Coruna in Spain after building a 3-0 lead inside 55 minutes. Goals from Augustine Okocha (29) and Laurent Leroy (43 and 55) appeared to have given PSG the opportunity to rise in the group -- but it proved to be just an illusion.  Deportivo struck back venomously with second-half substitute Walter Pandiani scoring a hat-trick inside 27 minutes and Diego Tristan adding another for a famous victory.

It is only the second time in Champions League history that a side has won a match after trailing 0-3 -- the previous occasion being in December 1993 when Werder Bremen beat Anderlecht 5-3. As long as Deportivo avoid defeat against Milan next week they will accompany Galatasaray into the last eight. The only other teams definitely through to the quarter-finals are Real Madrid and Leeds United from group D. Going into the final round of the second phase, eight teams are battling for the remaining four spots.