Manchester United survived a European scare....

By Neil Johnston BBC Sport

Manchester United survived a European scare after Toby Alderweireld's goal sentenced them to defeat.

But they still advanced on aggregate to book a last-16 Europa League tie with Athletic Bilbao despite a nervous display.

Ajax fell behind to Javier Hernandez's composed finish following Dimitar Berbatov's fine pass.
Aras Ozbiliz levelled from 20 yards but Alderweireld's headed winner arrived too late for the Dutch visitors.
Although United remain on the road to Bucharest, the city chosen to host the final, the result took some of the gloss off England caretaker boss Stuart Pearce's decision to name six players from Old Trafford in his new-look 25-man squad to face the Netherlands in next Wednesday's friendly.
Pearce was at Old Trafford to witness four of the six - Tom Cleverley, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young and Phil Jones - all start against four-times European champions Ajax as Sir Alex Ferguson named an experienced side despite returning from last week's trip to Amsterdam with a two-goal cushion.

 

Mark Lawrenson Football Analyst

 

"Manchester United will be pleased because they've got through the tie. But they did all the hard work in Ajax last week. The sloppiness in the second half was almost because of the belief 'it's alright we will score and go through'. And the way they conceded the second goal will seriously peeve the manager. They've just done enough to get over the finishing line - but the manager will not be happy with that."

The highly damaging 3-3 draw with Basel during their doomed Champions League campaign earlier in the season - when United led 2-0 before falling 3-2 behind - ensured the manager left nothing to chance.

But Ferguson was once again left biting his fingernails as United made hard work of going through.
Yet the anxious finish was in stark contrast to their confident start as Berbatov, making a rare start in place of the ill Wayne Rooney, made up for lost time.
Having teed up a chance for Nani inside the opening minute, the Bulgarian striker threaded a delicious pass which allowed Hernandez to take his goal tally for the season into double figures with a composed sixth-minute finish.
Trailing 3-0 on aggregate, Ajax, a shadow of the side that once dominated Europe, appeared as though they were just playing for pride.

United's last four European games at Old Trafford

23 Feb: Lost 1-2 to Ajax
22 Nov: Drew 2-2 with Benfica
2 Nov: Beat Otelul Galati 2-0
27 Sept: Drew 3-3 with Basel

Frank de Boer's side created plenty of chances and United goalkeeper David de Gea was forced to earn his wages but, more times than not, there was no end product.

They should have been dead and buried in the 15th minute when Hernandez tried to return the earlier favour from Berbatov by attempting to set up the striker to make it 2-0.
But to the visitors relief, Hernandez's pass was cut out by Jan Vertonghen before any further damage could be inflicted.
In an entertaining game, De Gea saved well from Ozbiliz before the midfielder hauled his side back on level terms on the night after firing home from 20 yards with the aid of a deflection off Jones in the 38th minute.
That will not have impressed Ferguson, who has moaned recently about the number of sloppy goals his side have conceded.
United responded with Cleverley testing keeper Kenneth Vermeer, but the save-of-the-match came at the other end in the 58th minute as De Gea produced a stunning stop to keep out Siem de Jong's close range header.
It was a crucial moment. Had that gone in then United might have had problems.
As it was, Alderweireld's winner on the night, a powerful header from Ozbiliz's deep ball into area, arrived too late to cause any serious damage other than to United's pride.
But Ferguson knows his side will have to play better if they are to progress to the final.
Source: BBC Sports

Syria faces ultimatum from international conference

Hillary Clinton: "The obstruction of a few countries cannot be allowed to stop the world community from coming to the aid of the Syrian people"

Syria Crisis

• Jim Muir's tribute to Marie Colvin
• Voice of Homs silenced
• Civil war?
• Guide: Syria Crisis

A major world conference is being held in Tunisia to seek a breakthrough in the increasingly bitter Syrian unrest.

The US, Europe and Arab countries plan to challenge President Bashar al-Assad to provide humanitarian access within days to the worst-affected areas.
There is growing pressure on Damascus to give access to civilians trapped by the onslaught on Homs, which has lasted for more than two weeks.
Activists say another 50 or 60 people died across Syria on Thursday.
Russia and China will not attend the Tunisia "Friends of Syria" conference, organised by the Arab League.
The two countries have faced Western and Arab criticism for blocking a UN Security Council resolution that would have backed an Arab League peace plan for Syria.
Around 70 other nations, including the US, UK, France and Turkey are attending.
The conference will agree a declaration on Syria, expected to demand an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian assessment, with the threat of further sanctions if ignored.
The declaration may also boost the standing of the main opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council, by naming it as a "legitimate" representative of Syrians, but stopping short of giving it full endorsement.
On the eve of the conference, the UN and Arab League appointed Kofi Annan as their envoy to Syria.
Mr Annan, a former UN secretary general, has in recent years acted as a diplomatic troubleshooter in several long-running conflicts.
The UN said in a statement he would "provide good offices aimed at bringing an end to all violence and human rights violations, and promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis".
'Assad's stranglehold'

Activists say many civilians have been killed and injured in the bombardment of Homs

On the eve of attending the Tunisia conference, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said all countries should "aggressively implement" measures they had already agreed.
"We look forward to concrete progress on three fronts - providing humanitarian relief, increasing pressure on the regime, and preparing for a democratic transition," she said.
"To that end, we hope to see new pledges of emergency assistance for Syrians caught in Assad's stranglehold, and international co-ordination and diplomatic pressure on Damascus to allow it to get to those who need it most. We also expect additional nations to impose effective sanctions against the regime."
The UK Prime Minister David Cameron said it was vital that the international community came together on the issue of Syria.
The French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, speaking in London before leaving for Tunis, said the conference needed to exert the maximum pressure on the Syrian government and also on Russia.
He said there was no military option on the table and France could not envisage such an option without an international mandate.
Journalists' plea The conference comes two days after journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik died during shelling in Homs.

Edith Bouvier: "I need an urgent operation"

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has described the killing of the two journalists as "murder", according to AFP.
"Those who did this will have to account for it," Mr Sarkozy said, alleging that the journalists were specifically targeted.
Two journalists wounded in the same attack have made internet appeals for medical help. Frenchwoman Edith Bouvier is being treated by Syrian medics but needs surgery which they are unable to perform. Paul Conroy, who is British, also asked for outside help to bring him to safety.
Meanwhile, a United Nations panel has drawn up a confidential list of Syrian military officials - believed to include President Assad - who could face investigation for crimes against humanity.
It says these include shooting unarmed women and children, shelling civilian areas and torturing the wounded.
Source: BBC