Frustrated United firing blanks Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Ronaldo chases for the ball
Manchester United's Champions League hopes were hanging by a thread after they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Villarreal in Group D on Tuesday.
The English side failed to score for the third successive game in Europe's top club competition and must win their final match at Benfica to guarantee a place in the knockout stages for the 10th year in a row.
Villarreal still top the standings with seven points from five games, one ahead of Lille and United and two clear of Benfica, making the Spaniards favourites to advance in their first season in the Champions League.
United made a lively start at Old Trafford and nearly took the lead after three minutes when Wayne Rooney brilliantly created room for a shot which was smothered by goalkeeper Mariano Barbosa.
Rooney then had a long-range effort blocked by his strike partner Van Nistelrooy but Villarreal, with five Argentines in their ranks, put together some neat attacks of their own.
United winger Cristiano Ronaldo headed a Paul Scholes corner narrowly over the bar as the hosts desperately sought to increase the tempo but despite winning a succession of corners they failed to test Barbosa again before halftime.
The introduction of Park Ji-sung as a substitute perked United up and the Korean almost set up a chance for Rooney with his first touch.
The game became scrappy amid a flurry of yellow cards, Marcos Senna and Alessio Tacchinardi of Villarreal and Scholes for United.
Park and Rooney again combined well to create an opportunity for the Korean but United were increasingly frustrated by the delaying tactics of their opponents.
An unmarked Ronaldo headed an inviting cross from Wes Brown well wide and the biggest cheer of the evening came on 73 minutes when Gary Neville returned to the side after three months out with a groin injury.
The England international and fellow substitute Louis Saha, making his first appearance of the season, failed to inspire their team, however, and Rooney's shot just over the bar was the closest United came in the dying minutes.
