Nistelrooy fires United to victory

Ruud Van Nistelrooy struck four times as Manchester United demolished Sparta Prague 4-1 in a lively Champions League Group D match at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Van Nistelrooy, recalled after missing the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday through suspension, responded in style to manager Alex Ferguson's criticism of his expensive strike force by going one better than his partner Wayne Rooney.

Rooney scored a hat-trick on his United debut in their last home Champions League game against Fenerbahce.

Van Nistelrooy's barrage took his overall Champions League tally to 41 at virtually a goal a game and made him only the fourth player to score four goals in a single match in the competition.

"Ruud's third was very important because it killed them off," said Ferguson. "Players like Ruud live for the big challenges and the Champions League gives them a true test.

"You find all the great players want to perform at this level."

Wednesday's victory lifted the English side into second place with eight points from four matches, two behind leaders Olympique Lyon who beat Fenerbahce 4-2 after two injury-time goals.

United went ahead on 14 minutes when Van Nistelrooy latched on to a poor back pass by defender Jiri Homola and rounded keeper Jaromir Blazek before rolling the ball into an empty net.

The hosts had already struck the Sparta woodwork through a rasping shot from defender Gabriel Heinze and should have doubled their lead when Paul Scholes headed wide of a gaping goal from close range.

The Czechs' reprieve was short-lived, however, Scholes earning a 25th-minute penalty after being upended as he surged into the area and Van Nistelrooy calmly converted the spot-kick.

Sparta also had dangerous moments, Roy Carroll making a fine save to deny Lukas Zelenka, but United should have added a third just before the interval when Cristiano Ronaldo failed to beat Blazek after being released by Rooney's pass.

PULLED BACK

The Portuguese winger's profligacy looked worse eight minutes into the second half when Zelenka pulled a goal back for Sparta.

The lively forward tricked a static United defence with a dummy and ran on to a precise through ball before lifting the ball neatly over Carroll from 10 metres.

United looked rattled but Van Nistelrooy was on hand to settle their nerves on the hour.

The Dutchman was again the beneficiary of sloppy defending as he capitalised on hesitation in the Sparta defence to dink a lob over Blazek.

The Czech goalkeeper made a diving save to keep out Ronaldo's blistering 30-metre free kick and the winger was substituted soon afterwards, along with Scholes, as Ferguson turned his attention to Sunday's Manchester derby against City.

Sparta never gave up but their evening match ended on a double sour note when their captain Karel Poborsky, returning to his former club, was sent off two minutes from time.