Besiktas 0-1 Man Utd

Paul Scholes nodded home a 77th-minute winner for Manchester United in their opening Champions League qualifying match tonight.

In a game of few chances, United were marginally the better side against an enthusiastic Besiktas outfit in Istanbul.

But with the hosts lacking a cutting edge, they were always vulnerable and Scholes made them pay as he latched onto the rebound after Hakan Arikan had denied Nani.

The noise as United kicked off was something to behold, virtually the entire stadium bouncing in unison in support of the home team.

Tomas Sivok came straight through the back of Rooney to concede a free-kick on halfway, and with Jonny Evans getting a crack on the face in the opening stages as well, Besiktas were clearly intent on making an impression.

Rooney trundled a disappointing shot well wide then, at the other end, Serdar Oskan had a volley blocked by Evans after Michael Carrick had lost possession inside his own half.

Sivok was booked after only six minutes when he chopped Rooney down once more, although United could make nothing of the free-kick.

On his Champions League debut, Antonio Valencia skipped past Ibrahim Uzulmez but could not pick out a team-mate with his cross.

The Ecuador star beat the same man again shortly afterwards but, again, the end product was not good enough to catch Besiktas out.

Carrick strode onto Rooney's short pass and let fly with a firm drive from 25 yards but Hakan Arikan made an acrobatic save to his right.

Valencia escaped his marker at the near post when Nani swung over a low corner and sent a header looping across goal.

Uzulmez was on hand to boot clear, although the effort would probably have gone just wide anyway.

Uzulmez won his side a corner off Neville but a firm header from Evans allowed Nani to bring the ball away.

Arikan fumbled Valencia's cross, which would have been a disastrous mistake if Ibrahim Kas had not been on hand to head back into the keeper's arms as Nani closed in.

United were playing well without creating a clear-cut chance. Nani's backheel released Patrice Evra inside the penalty area but Carrick turned the Frenchman's low cross narrowly wide.

Valencia then flung himself at Rooney's cross without success before Besiktas rallied, Ozkan letting fly with a fierce effort that flicked off Evans.

The deflection left Ben Foster completely stranded but thankfully for United the ball dropped just over the bar, starting a run of three successive corners for Besiktas which, ultimately, brought no reward.

Carrick's angled cross was just too high for Rooney, then Vidic took a bang on the ribs as he tried to reach a Nani corner.

The tough-tackling Serbian glanced a header wide from United's next corner, which Anderson took from the other side.

Besiktas were industrious opponents but seemed to lack a measure of class in the final third.

Evra limped away from a crunching collision with Rodrigo Tabata, but Nani curled the free-kick harmlessly over.

United started the second half brightly. Nani delivered a brilliant cross into the heart of Besiktas' penalty area that Matteo Ferrari failed to clear.

The bounce did not help Carrick, who ended up kneeing an effort towards goal which Arikan scooped up on his line.

Apparently, UEFA were investigating the possible use of a laser in the crowd, although there was no immediate indication where it was coming from, or whether anyone had been affected.

Evra's poor control cost United a decent counter-attack opportunity and Sivok read Nani's intentions when the Portugal winger stepped inside Ekrem Dag.

Mert Nobre was booked for a late tackle on Evans, then Paul Scholes needed to make a vital intervention as Vidic's threatened to set up Ozkan.

Rodrigo Tabata was quickly onto the loose ball but failed to beat Foster from 15 yards.

It was the prelude to Besiktas' best spell of the match though and Yusuf Simsek replaced Ozkan as the hosts tried to make the best of their territorial advantage.

United responded by introducing Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen, who was making his first Champions League appearance for four-and-a-half years, for Carrick and Rooney, who did not look impressed.

Not that anyone would have been complaining if Owen had turned home Valencia's cross moments afterwards.

In the end, the former England man was probably delighted an offside flag saved his blushes as he failed to make contact.

United did not have long to wait for the decisive opening goal though. Nani let fly with a bullet strike from 10 yards. Arikan denied the winger with a superb save but Scholes was on hand to head home the rebound.

Besiktas did their best to haul themselves back into the contest - but United remained strong at the back to claim the victory.