Wounded hero David Beckham strode through a week of controversy and turbulence to send Manchester United to the brink of their seventh successive Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford tonight.

The United midfielder and England captain might still have been sporting the scars from his infamous dressing-room bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson - but the only wounds inflicted tonight were on Juventus, who saw an evening of toil end without reward thanks to Beckham's crossing expertise.

In his pre-match press conference, Ferguson light-heartedly claimed if his accuracy had been such that he could have smacked the most notorious stray boot in history into Beckham's face on more than one occasion every hundred attempts, he would not have packed in playing.

Fortunately, the England skipper's skills are rather more renowned, so after the home fans were given their first piece of good news by finding Beckham's name among Ferguson's starting line-up, their right-wing hero delivered the second after just three minutes, courtesy of a trademark outswinging corner which landed smack on Wes Brown's head.

Brown's abilities in front of goal are more akin to his manager's than his national captain's - and his only Old Trafford strikes to date have been unfortunate ones into his own net, so it was something of a surprise to see him meet the cross with force and send a downward header bouncing beyond Antonio Chimenti.

Beckham resisted the temptation to run to the dug-out and give his manager a hug as a sign of unity, but after such a tempestuous week, it was a welcome indication that normal service will soon be resumed.

In contrast, Juve coach Marcello Lippi must have wondered how many ladders he had walked under.

Having left five players at home with flu, Lippi lost Lilian Thuram with the same virus this morning, had an appeal for a postponement turned down by UEFA, then saw skipper Antonio Conte injure himself in the warm-up. As Brown celebrated his debut goal, he must have been tempted to ask for an abandonment.

Instead, his troops rallied, marshalled magnificently by Edgar Davids, who bustled about the pitch in a manner expected of Roy Keane, who was again content to patrol the midfield without extending his damaged hip too much.

The only blot on the tenacious Dutchman's copybook was the needless yellow card he picked up for delaying a free-kick, but he more than made up for that with some startlingly-energetic midfield bursts, including one 30-yard race down the touchline to rob Ryan Giggs like a pickpocket.

What Juventus lacked was a cutting edge.

Frenchman David Trezeguet toiled as he did in the World Cup and though Pavel Nedved was more of a central figure, the Czech international could not carve out a clear opportunity.

Not that United were chiselling out too many openings themselves other than a couple of Beckham free-kicks which did not come close to capping his night.

There was certainly not enough of a positive outlook for them to laugh off an atrocious refereeing decision by Kim Milton Nielsen, who played advantage when Ruud van Nistelrooy was chopped down in the area by Chimenti, only to see the advancing Paul Scholes strike the loose ball against a post from an acute angle.

Juve could hardly had been grudged their first slice of good fortune since they left Turin yesterday, but van Nistelrooy did not have to help them out with a mis-placed pass into Zalayeta's path which allowed Nedved to inspire another forceful attack.

Somehow, through a combination of luck and good judgement, the home side managed to keep their goal in tact, allowing Beckham to stride back into the limelight he so adores.

Five minutes from time, he lofted a cross into the Juventus box which exposed the visitors stretched defences.

With 20 European goals in his United career already, van Nistelrooy was the perfect man to appear in one of the gaping holes and the Dutchman calmly came of age by lifting a first-time volley beyond Chimenti.

The home fans bellowed Beckham's name, relations with his manager may continue to endure their rough patches, but Old Trafford remains his spiritual home and, in all probability, where he will see out his days.

As ever with United, nothing is straightforward and Nedved's late strike ensured an anxious period of stoppage time.

The Red Devils survived and when they survey a Group D table which gives them a five-point lead over their nearest challengers, the feeling of satisfaction should ensure any stray boots are left on the floor this evening.

Teams

Man Utd: Barthez, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre (O'Shea 52), Beckham, Keane, Butt, Giggs (Forlan 90), Scholes (Solskjaer 80), van Nistelrooy.

Subs Not Used: Ricardo, Phil Neville, Pugh, Fletcher.

Booked: Scholes, Keane.

Goals: Brown 3, van Nistelrooy 85.

Juventus: Chimenti, Pessotto, Montero, Ferrara, Zenoni, Nedved, Davids, Tacchinardi, Camoranesi, Trezeguet (Olivera 65), Zalayeta.

Subs Not Used: Bonnefoi, Fresi, Paro, Gastaldello.

Booked: Davids, Tacchinardi.

Goals: Nedved 90.

Att: 66,703

Ref: K Nielson (Denmark).