Tevez denies Lyon Champions 1st leg win

LYON, France -- Carlos Tevez stepped off the bench to grab a late equalizer for Manchester United in their Champions League knock-out round first leg match with Lyon in France.

Tevez ghosted in at the far post to grab a 1-1 draw after Karim Benzema had opened the scoring for the French champions with a superb individual effort.

But the Argentine's 87th-minute goal will give United confidence going into the return leg at Old Trafford in two weeks, as they seek to reach the quarterfinals of the competition they won in 1999.

Ryan Giggs returned to the United side to make his 100th Champions League appearance and was named captain after being rested for Saturday's FA Cup victory was against Arsenal.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes were also back in the starting line-up against a Lyon team who have won the French title six seasons in a row.

Wayne Rooney was employed as the solitary striker, with Tevez starting the game as one of the substitutes.

There was a scare for United in the 24th minute when Rio Ferdinand sliced a cross from Jeremy Toulalan but the ball went wide of the post.

Rooney, however, almost made the breakthrough a minute later after being released by Giggs but Gregory Coupet made a superb parry.

Lyon broke back immediately, and the highly rated Karim Benzema suddenly sprung into action in the 26th minute.

He cleverly made space for himself in the area but watched in frustration as the shot went over the bar.

United were content to hit Lyon on the counter-attack, with Rooney putting in a hard shift up front on his own.

Owen Hargreaves was booked in the 40th minute after a challenge on Govou which angered the French bench.

As the half was coming to an end, United carved out a couple of half-chances. Ronaldo saw his free-kick from distance punched away by Coupet before United won a corner on the right.

Giggs swung the ball in on his 100th European appearance, but Ronaldo failed to test the goalkeeper and headed over the bar. I

United manager Alex Ferguson decided to keep things as they were at the start of the second half.

However, it was Lyon who made the breakthrough in the 54th minute with a great piece of skill from Benzema.

The 20-year-old striker had his back to goal when Toulalan played the ball through. There seemed little on, but Benzema turned quickly and got between Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic before stealing the shot into the corner.

It was his fourth goal in six Champions League appearances, and a sweet moment for the player. Benzema's mature performances have been noted beyond France, and it is easy to see why.

United were stung, and Ronaldo tried to pick out Rooney with a cross in the 61st minute - but Lyon goalkeeper Coupet stayed alert and made a timely interception.

Ferguson decided to switch things around four minutes later and brought on Nani and Tevez for Giggs and Scholes.

United had more attacking options as they went in search of the equaliser.

Ronaldo and Michael Carrick went close before Tevez pulled them level in the 87th minute.

The Argentine striker lost his marker and ghosted in at the far post to send his effort beyond Coupet. E-mail to a friend