Match Report: Javier Hernandez's headers save Manchester United after dismal start against Braga Since lifting the European Cup in Moscow four years ago, Manchester United have had an awful lot of trouble with teams beginning with B. They have been knocked out of the competition in successive seasons by Barcelona (twice), Bayern Munich and Basle - and last night they came close to embarrassment against Braga. The scoreline and their recovery from a two-goal deficit will suggest this was one of Old Trafford's "great European nights" but although they are now almost Frankel-like certainties to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League, Sir Alex Ferguson would know that Europe has hardly trembled at their progress. If there had been complacency after the narrow, somewhat unconvincing, wins over Galatasaray and Cluj, Ferguson had tried his best to dispel it with programme notes warning that, however straightforward Group H appeared, the Champions League could still surprise. BATE Borisov beat Bayern Munich 3-1 in the last round. "And let's be honest," he said. How many of you know where Borisov is? Braga is in northern Portugal, not far from Oporto, and within 90 seconds they had become the eighth side this season to have taken the lead against Manchester United. Even before kick-off things had not begun well. Anders Lindegaard injured his hand in the warm-up and was out of this match and Sunday's potentially decisive encounter at Chelsea. Sam Johnstone, the keeper in United's FA Youth Cup winning side last season, was promoted to the bench. When he makes his debut, he would hope to be behind a better defence than the shambles that took the field last night. It was a good night for any keeper to be on the bench. Michael Carrick has been pressed into service several times by Ferguson in central defence, most notably in Wolfsburg, where three years ago an injury-raddled side overcame the German champions. However, last night proved he ought to insist on being a midfielder. The Champions League anthem had barely faded away when Braga took the lead. Hugo Viana, once of Newcastle, was given far too much time to deliver a fine, deep cross into the heart of the Manchester United area and Alan Osorio da Costa Silva, Braga's 33-year-old Brazilian known by his first name, whose goal had knocked Liverpool out of the Europa League last year, rose past Alexander Buttner. If that was a slap in the face, what followed was a punch to the stomach. Eder, the 24-year-old from the old Portuguese colony of Guinea-Bissau, turned Carrick brilliantly and delivered a low cross that Alan ran between Buttner and Jonny Evans to slide home. The Ulsterman turned and gave the Dutchman a mouthful. Manchester United may be Ming-vase fragile in defence but Ferguson still possesses some irresistible options in attack. It helped that Braga's left-back, Elderson, did not bother to mark Javier Hernandez, who had only Beto to beat to Shinji Kagawa's cross. There was an inevitability about what followed, although as the referee blew his whistle for half-time, the sound in the home dressing room was that of the hairdryer being turned on. It is unlikely Ferguson's fury would have been directed at Kagawa, but the man who is potentially the finest player from Japan suffered the humiliation of being replaced by Nani at the break. Just after the hour, Manchester United were level as Van Persie's corner struck Carrick on the back and looped towards Evans. The defender took a massive swipe at the ball, missed, saw it come back to him off Alan's shins, had another go and scored. There was only one way this match was going to end and it came with a full quarter of an hour remaining. Tom Cleverley sent in a cross that was as good and as deep as Viana's had been and for a second time Hernandez was left unmarked with fatal results. The only previous time Manchester United had overturned a two-goal deficit to win a Champions League fixture had been in the 1999 semi-final against Juventus in the Stadio delle Alpi. That was a portent for what was to follow against Bayern Munich but Ferguson would know that, despite the chants of "Glory, Glory Man United" from the Stretford End, this was not a performance that wins European Cups. Booked: Braga Custodio, Elderson. Man of the match Alan. Possession: Man United 59%. Braga 41%. Attempts on target: Man United 4. Braga 3. Referee M Mazic (Serb). Attendance 73,195.