After winning so many games with late goals, Manchester United had the tables turned on them by Deportivo La Coruna in sensational fashion in the Riazor Stadium.

United must have thought they had finally managed to beat a Spanish side in Spain after 44 years of trying as the clock ticked down with them leading through Paul Scholes' first half strike.

But then in the 86th minute Depor's constant pressure paid off when substitute Walter Pandiani fired home the equaliser.

Depor scented victory and sure enough in the 89th minute, just as David Beckham had done against Lille last week, Nourredine Naybet rammed home the winner to send the home fans wild.

Finally after years of dramatic finales, such as the 1999 Champions League Final, United knew what it was like to see victory snatched from their grasp in the dying minutes.

There had been no inkling of the excitement that was to follow during a dull first half.

After brushing aside Ipswich with what was basically a reserve side, Sir Alex Ferguson wheeled back all his big hitters for this showdown with Depor in the picturesque Galician city of La Coruna.

United held firm against the home side's early raids and Fabien Barthez saved a glancing header from the lively Diego Tristan before the striker fired a shot against Ronny Johnsen. Depor needed to win after drawing their opening Champions League Group G game in the Riazor against Olympiakos last week.

They kept up the pressure and Diego Tristan was played through on the right only for Barthez to save his shot from the narrow angle after it ricocheted off Johnsen's legs.

United responded and David Beckham tried to recreate his famous goal against Wimbledon in 1996 when he floated a long-range shot onto the roof of Francisco Molina's goal after he had spotted the goalkeeper off his line.

Diego Tristan's pace was causing United's veteran defence problems and from one foray he skinned Laurent Blanc, despite being held back by the Frenchman, before he was halted in the United area by the uncompromising Johnsen at the expense of a corner. Barthez then produced a great reflex save in the 34th minute to keep the game goalless. Romero whipped in a corner and Diego Tristan's header from around eight yards out was destined for the back of the net until Barthez got his hand to it and Fran blazed over from the rebound.

That save took on even greater importance five minutes before the interval when Scholes gave United the lead.Ruud van Nistelrooy's assault on goal was halted and the loose ball rebounded to Scholes and the England midfielder advanced into the area before scoring with a right-foot shot into the top corner.

It was Scholes' 16th Champions League and for one brief moment the hordes of Depor fans were silenced. Depor piled forward again, but United's well-organised backline showed no signs of buckling. Tristan was still a threat and he hit a crisp shot which Barthez did well to at full stretch with is right hand.Depor cranked up the pressure and the impressive Barthez touched Denis Irwin's dangerous back header around his left-hand post. Spaces were opening up in the home side's defence for United to exploit and Ryan Giggs shot just wide from one counter-attack before Roy Keane drove an effort straight at Molina.

The Reds had further chances on the break and Giggs beat one-time United target Nourredine Naybet down the left only for Molina to get a hand to his shot. Then just when it seemed United would record an historic win, came Depor's late intervention.Substitute Valeron lifted the ball over United's static defence for Pandiani to score before Naybet, another man the Old Trafford outfit have previously expressed interest in, crashed home the winner.

His goal came almost exactly at the same time as Beckham's did last week at Old Trafford. The irony will not be lost on United.