Manchester United simply refused to recognise the compelling logic of another imminent defeat by Juventus in the Champions League at Old Trafford last night even when Alessandro Del Piero scored for the Italian side after a mere 20 seconds.

With Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham gradually establishing parity and at times dominating the tough Juventus defenders, United forced their way back into the game by half-time and went ahead midway through the second half.

First Sheringham headed the scores level from Giggs's centre and then, soon after Didier Deschamps had been sent off for a second bookable offence, Gary Pallister sent Paul Scholes through for United's second goal. Scholes had replaced the injured Ole Solskjaer shortly after the interval.

In the 89th minute Sheringham put Giggs through to score with a marvellous left-footed shot and guarantee Juventus's first defeat by an English club in Europe for 18 years. It was to be one of United's greatest nights in Europe and even a late free kick by Zinadine Zidane did little to take away from a tremendous performance by United.

The renewal of acquaintances with the Italian side demanded that United remember the virtue of patience and necessity of possession if they were to stand a realistic chance of winning this time. But they scarcely had time to ponder such niceties before they were behind once more.

Certainly Ferguson had remembered all too clearly the way the Italian side had dominated both first halves last season. With Roy Keane injured, and likely to be out for some time, both Ronny Johnsen and Nicky Butt were drafted into United's midfield. Yet no sooner had United kicked off than Johnsen lost the ball to Deschamps and what followed, with the game only 20 seconds old, was, for Old Trafford, the recurrence of a bad dream.

Manuel Dimas took up the movement as Juventus crowded forward, with Del Piero already stealing through on the right. By the time Dimas's pass reached him Del Piero looked offside and certainly the defenders seemed to think so. But the flag stayed down (in fact the Italian had been in line with the last defender when the ball was played) and Del Piero calmly evaded Schmeichel and Henning Berg before slipping the ball into the net.

After 17 minutes Pallister nodded on a long throw from Gary Neville and a header from Sheringham, after Giggs had glanced the ball back, found the net. Sadly for United this "goal" was ruled offside.

On the half-hour Beckham and Giggs worked the ball across from the left towards Sheringham, who did not make contact but allowed the ball to run on to Solskjaer, whose shot was blocked by Angelo Peruzzi. Old Trafford took some encouragement from that moment.

Seven minutes before half-time, in fact, they had something rather more to cheer about. Suddenly Giggs was in space on the left, his centre to the far post was high and true and Sheringham rose imperiously at the far post to head down past Peruzzi. All this had been achieved with United reduced to 10 men, Butt having gone off for a few minutes following a clash of heads.

That goal added heart and faith to United's football. They lost a limping Solskjaer early in the second half but this merely brought on Scholes and, with Giggs now in his element, Old Trafford clamoured for the lead.

And to watching Glenn Hoddle's delight, one of his key men - Scholes - struck the goal that turned the game on its head.

Manchester United: Schmeichel; G Neville, Berg, Pallister, Irwin; Beckham, Johnsen, Butt, Giggs; Sheringham, Solskjaer (Scholes, 49min).

Juventus: Peruzzi; Birindelli, Ferrara, Montero, Dimas; Pecchia (Juliano, 69), Deschamps, Zidane, Tacchinardi; Inzaghi, Del Piero (Amoruso, 78).

Referee: A Lopez Nieto (Spain).