Paul Scholes earned Manchester United a hard-fought win at Besiktas in their opening Champions League Group B game.
Scholes steered in a header after Nani’s stinging shot had been parried into his path by keeper Hakan Arikan.
The goal was reward for United’s persistence in trying to find a way through the massed Besiktas ranks in a game of rare chances.
The visitors’ only scare came when Serdar Ozkan had a shot deflected to safety off centre-back Johnny Evans.
Scholes’ goal came after United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had taken off disgruntled striker Wayne Rooney and midfielder Michael Carrick for forward pair Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen.
Rooney went off shaking his head and slammed down his boot after taking it off in the dug-out to reveal his obvious displeasure.
But he had made little impact and Ferguson’s move paid dividends in a game where United had struggled to unlock a stubborn Besiktas side.
Paul Scholes, 1-0 , 77 minutes
