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Manchester United wins in Champions League

MANCHESTER, England, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- David Beckham assisted on both goals Wednesday as Manchester United maintained its perfect record in the second group stage of the Champions League with a 2-1 triumph over flu-ravaged Juventus at Old Trafford.

Beckham was left with a cut over his left eye Saturday after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson kicked a boot, which accidently hit the superstar midfielder and caused a wound that reportedly required two stitches.

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Ferguson was angry following his club's 2-0 home loss to Arsenal in the fifth round of England's FA Cup.

The England national team captain fired in a cross after four minutes and defender Wes Brown headed home the opener.

There were just five minutes remaining in the match when Beckham floated a cross into the box and striker Ruud van Nistelrooy volleyed past goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti to make it 2-0.

Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved pulled his team within a goal in injury time, but Juventus unsurprisingly suffered its first defeat in the second group phase.

Bianconeri coach Marcello Lippi had his appeal for a postponement of the match rejected despite the fact his squad was depleted by a flu virus.

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Manchester United moved closer to clinching a place in the Champions League quarterfinals for the ninth consecutive year.

Meanwhile, Juventus was fortunate to hold on to second place in Group D.

Hakan Yakin struck in the 30th minute and Basel held on for a shocking 1-0 upset of Deportivo Coruna in the other Group D encounter.

In Group C action, Jon Dahl Tomasson struck midway through the second half as AC Milan posted a 1-0 blanking of Lokomotiv Moscow.

Milan recorded its third straight 1-0 win to open the second group stage and put itself on the verge of a Champions League quarterfinal berth.

Raul and Ronaldo found the net for defending champion Real Madrid, which climbed into second place in Group C with a 2-1 home victory over Borussia Dortmund.

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