Nilmar is pride of Lyon

By Pete Sanderson in Lyon

"He's quicker than Owen, has the vision of Zidane and plays like a young Pelé," declared the banner as Manchester United FC got another chapter of UEFA Champions League football got underway against Olympique Lyonnais.

Tasty player
But, for once, the fans were not lauding the talents of United's boy wonder Wayne Rooney. The player in question was Lyon's extraordinary talent Honorato da Silva 'Nilmar'; a 20-year-old Brazilian striker small in build but huge on talent and expected to make a visit to France's gastronomical capital every bit as appetising as the local cuisine for supporters across Europe. His performance in this exhilarating 2-2 draw at the Stade Gerland may have been fleeting, but few who attended will forget his name in a hurry.

'New Rooney'
Even before the curtains were raised on Lyon's fifth consecutive season on Europe's premier stage, coach Paul Le Guen had already likened Nilmar to Rooney - despite the €6.75m summer signing from SC Internacional already having two years on the Old Trafford youngster.

Pace in abundance
Like Rooney, he may have not have been among the starters, but after being unleashed on an unsuspecting United for a 23-minute cameo performance following his double strike against Stade Rennais FC at the weekend, his contribution pointed to a long and glittering career.

Colourful start
This was the perfect opening match to kickstart the French champions' European campaign and the sea of red and blue did their best to inject some passion into their players before battle commenced. Lyon were facing a United squad already nursing bruised bodies and egos after a woeful start to the season both on the pitch and on the treatment table.

Colourful start
It was United, who elected to leave Alan Smith kicking his heels on the bench, who looked the most sprightly in the opening exchanges with Ryan Giggs's mesmerising run eventually finding Eric Djemba-Djemba who shot narrowly over. But it soon became clear that United's early superiority was merely a false dawn, as Lyon turned up the heat as the half progressed.

Brazilian blend
If it was Lyon's French combination who had United on the ropes, it was their Brazilian who eventually delivered the first telling blow, Tim Howard fumbling Juninho Pernambucano's fizzing free-kick before Cris thumped home the rebound. Lyon, a devastating side if the mood takes them, soon doubled their advantage, Sylvain Wiltord's perfectly weighted pass finding Pierre-Alain Frau to slot the ball in.

Sterling fightback
But for all the insults aimed at United after their mediocre start to the campaign, there still lies an inner spirit within any side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, and with the second half just 15 minutes old, Ruud van Nistelrooij had shown exactly what United had missed in the opening few games of the season when levelling matters with two predatory goals.

Cameo role
The hosts responded immediately, Le Guen throwing Nilmar into the fray and the youngster was centimetres away from writing himself into Lyon folklore, prodding wide after Howard had done just enough to put him off. But, despite ending with honours even, it was a night which proved two things; Lyon's performance last season was certainly no fluke, while United have plenty to do if they are to advance from this group.

More to offer
As for young Nilmar, well we have not seen the last of him, that is for sure.