In Benzema, Lyon have their own Ronaldo

By Patrick Vignal

LYON, France (Reuters) - Olympique Lyon face an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals but Wednesday's home 1-1 draw with Manchester United at least confirmed that they, too, can parade an exceptional player.

While 27-goal Cristiano Ronaldo showed only glimpses of his dazzling skills on the Gerland pitch, Lyon's Karim Benzema stole the limelight with his superb second-half strike.

The 20-year-old France striker, who has now scored 25 goals this term including 16 in Ligue 1, collected a short ball from Jeremy Toulalan just outside the box 54 minutes into the first leg of the first knockout round tie.

With hardly any space, he swiftly moved the ball from his right to his left foot, smoothly turned and left Edwin van der Sar no chance with a low drive that bounced off the post and into the net.

Alex Ferguson, who knows a special player when he sees one, admitted he was impressed.

"We lost a goal out of nothing, really, but it showed the qualities of Benzema", the United manager said. "It was a marvellous strike."

Benzema grew up admiring the "other" Ronaldo, the Brazilian one currently sidelined with a serious knee injury, who features prominently in the Frenchman's huge collection of football DVDs.

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