Trailing French champions Lyon by two goals at the interval, Sir Alex Ferguson's side rallied to secure a 2-2 draw courtesy of a second half double from van Nistelrooy.

The goals took the Dutch striker's tally of European goals for United to 30, two more than the previous record set by Denis Law in the 1960's and 70's.

Van Nistelrooy, playing only his second game after a hernia operation and clearly lacking match sharpness, contributed little else to the match. But his goals vindicated Ferguson's decision to gamble on his fitness.

The same could not however be said for the United manager's decision to keep faith with the out-of-form Tim Howard.

The American goalkeeper gifted Lyon's Brazilian defender Cris their opening goal mid-way through the second half and United appeared dead and buried when Pierre-Alain Frau added a second on the stroke of half-time.

Despite the fightback, Ferguson made it clear he was ready to swing the axe in response to the chaotic first half display.

"We can't ignore what happened in the first half. If we did I would not be doing my job," the Scot said. "There were some terrible elements to our play and we had to change.

Eric Djemba-Djemba and Ryan Giggs both spurned good early chances before the defensive hesitancy that has haunted Ferguson's side this season became apparent.

United's back four were repeatedly outmanouvered by Lyon's nimble forwards.

The sight of Scholes, ostensibly playing up front alongside van Nistelrooy, heading the ball off his own line from Frau underlined the extent to which the momentum had swung behind the home side.

Kneeling to gather an innocuous long-range free-kick from Juninho, Howard allowed the ball to cannon off his chest, presenting Cris with an easy close-range finish. The visitors were then caught by a sucker punch just before the break when Ronaldo lost possession with all but two of his team-mates ahead of him.

Wiltord capitalised by carrying the ball fully 60 yards to the edge of the area before slipping a pass to Frau, who beat Howard from 12 yards.

But within 12 minutes of the restart United were back in the contest .

Having switched to the left flank, Ronaldo was allowed to turn back on to his favoured right foot and get in a cross that van Nistelrooy got his head to ahead of France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.

Five minutes later United were level. Drifting in from the right, Roy Keane set up Ronaldo for a shot that spun kindly off a Lyon boot and into van Nistelrooy's pathand his left boot duly swept the ball past Coupet.

United lived dangerously right to the end. It took another goal-saving block from Scholes to deny Wiltord a goal and substitute Nilmar was guilty of an astonishing miss 12 minutes from time when he pushed Malouda's cross wide of the target from barely eight yards out.

Juninho's stoppage time effort then flew inches wide with Howard struggling to cover his post .