By Mitch Phillips
Reuters
Wednesday, April 24, 2002; 5:02 PM

_____Champions League_____ Draws/Tables/Fixtures: • Semifinals • Quarterfinals • Second Phase • First Phase _____Semifinals Results_____ 1st Leg • Man. United 2, Bayer Leverkusen 2 • Barcelona 0, Real Madrid 2

MANCHESTER, England, April 24 – Bayer Leverkusen took a confident step towards their first appearance in the Champions League final after earning a priceless 2-2 semifinal, first leg draw at Manchester United on Wednesday.

The German league leaders produced a mature, controlled performance, just as they had in the away first leg against Liverpool in the quarter-finals, and now look favourites to go on to the final in Glasgow on May 15.

Without ever looking comfortable, United twice led with a deflected Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goal and a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty, but equalisers by Michael Ballack and Oliver Neuville were the least Leverkusen deserved.

United must now win in Germany next Tuesday – or get a high-scoring draw—to advance.

They will have to do it without England defender Gary Neville, who went off after 18 minutes with a suspected broken foot, although inspirational captain Roy Keane will be back after making a late appearance as a substitute on Wednesday.

Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmoeller had said defence would be the key to the first leg and duly started with just Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov up front and Carsten Ramelow patrolling the area in front of the back four to snuff out the threat of Ryan Giggs.

The Germans looked calm and assured in possession and in the first 20 minutes restricted United to a couple of half-chances that Ruud van Nistelrooy was unable to convert.

The Dutch striker flicked on a long clearance after 24 minutes which Solskjaer seized on before shooting just wide, but five minutes later the same combination produced the opening goal.

Van Nistelrooy did well on the right before whipping in a low cross and Solskjaer, who had scored in United's last three games, scored via a cruel deflection off Boris Zivkovic that left goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt totally wrong-footed.

Leverkusen missed a glorious chance to equalise five minutes later, when Ramelow picked out the unmarked Berbatov in front of goal only for the Bulgarian to send his header wide.

The German league leaders continued to knock the ball around comfortably and dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half.

REWARD EARNED

Their patient passing earned its reward after 61 minutes when Bernd Schneider crossed from the right and Ballack, who got two against Liverpool in the quarter-final second leg, connected to send a bouncing shot beyond Fabien Barthez.

The goal stung United into action and they regained the lead from the penalty spot in the 67th minute when Van Nistelrooy stroked in his 10th Champions League goal and 35th overall this season after he had been felled by Ze Roberto.

A brilliant one-handed save by Butt prevented Sebastian Veron making it 3-1 in the 75th minute.

But, while the home fans were still bemoaning their luck, Leverkusen broke and after a goalmouth scramble Neuville – only on the pitch for three minutes—stabbed in the second equaliser.

Not even the surprise arrival of Keane, back from the hamstring tear he suffered in the quarter-final first leg, could lift United in the last 10 minutes and they now face a huge task if they are to make the final.