Bayern Munich 2 Manchester United 1:Wayne Rooney limped off with what appeared to be a serious foot injury as Ivica Olic's injury-time strike condemned Manchester United to a Champions League defeat at the Allianz Arena in a game that shared similarities with their famous 1999 decider.
Rooney put the Red Devils in front after just 64 seconds. But Bayern dominated after that and drew level when Rooney deflected Franck Ribery’s free-kick past Edwin van der Sar 14 minutes from time before an eventual finish that brought double agony for United.
The game sprung to life from the start when Martin Demichelis needlessly flattened Nani in the opening seconds with what proved to be a very costly challenge.
Nani took his time picking himself up before curling over a free-kick that flicked off Mark van Bommel and looped straight into the path of an unmarked Rooney after Demichelis had slipped.
The in-form forward could not miss from barely four yards and the stadium clock registered 64 seconds as Rooney wheeled away in delight at United’s sensational start and his 34th goal of the season.
Bayern should have levelled when Ribery picked out Hamit Altintop with a brilliant chip over the United back four.
The pass called for a first-time finish. Instead, the Turkey international tried to control with a poor touch and the ball rolled through to Van der Sar.
An equally glaring opportunity came their way moments later when Van der Sar punched a Ribery effort straight to Altintop.
His mis-hit shot deceived Rio Ferdinand and looked to have presented Olic with a tap-in, only for the Croatian to completely miss his kick.
Olic was penalised for a foul on Ferdinand which denied Thomas Muller a clear sight of the United goal.
United found themselves on the defensive right at the start of the second half as Ribery again caused problems.
The Frenchman was impressing and after a forceful run, he fed Olic, who drew a smart save out of Van der Sar.
Former Manchester City man Daniel van Buyten barged Gary Neville over inside the United box which cost him a shooting chance. Had it not been for the scoreline, the hosts would probably feel quite satisfied with their evening’s work.
Van der Sar needed to make a full-length save to deny Muller, whose shot took a deflection off Darren Fletcher.
Altintop danced through the United defence on the edge of the area before drawing another fine save out of Van der Sar, who denied fellow countryman Van Bommel shortly afterwards.
Holger Badstuber was booked for a poor tackle on Nani as the hour mark approached, with United still clinging to that lead.
Danijel Pranjic’s shot looped just over after hitting Paul Scholes before Michael Carrick and Park Ji-sung were replaced by Antonio Valencia and Dimitar Berbatov.
Bayern responded by bringing on Mario Gomez for Muller and Neville was booked for deliberate handball shortly afterwards.
It proved to be a significant move as from the free-kick, Ribery struck Rooney and the deflection sent it flying into the corner, with Van der Sar completely flat-footed.
Scholes was booked for flattening Olic, then, after Ryan Giggs had replaced Nani, Nemaja Vidic thundered the Welshman’s cross against the bar.
Rooney was booked for a foul on Pranjic before Gomez was denied by Van der Sar.
It looked like Bayern would have to settle for a draw, but with Rooney down and needing attention after twisting his ankle, the hosts broke forward again and Olic robbed a sleeping Evra of possession in the box and with time to tap the winner past Van der Sar.
In tonight’s other clash, Olympique Lyon’s Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez scored twice to helped his side beat Bordeaux 3-1 in a lively first leg of the Champions League's first all-French quarter-final.
Home side Lyon, hoping to make the last four of the event for the first time, opened the scoring through Lisandro but were pegged back minutes later with a splendid goal by Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh.
Lyon made it 2-1 courtesy of Brazilian winger Michel Bastos around the half-hour and a Lisandro penalty 13 minutes from time gave them a significant advantage over French champions Bordeaux, who ended Lyon's seven-year reign at the top of Ligue 1 last year.