Paul Scholes continued his hot scoring streak in the Champions League to give Manchester United the lead in freezing conditions against Sturm Graz.

	Scholes watches his shot fly in (RossKinnaird/Allsport)

Scholes netted his fifth goal in the competition this season after 17 minutes in the Arnold Schwarzenegger stadium to register United's first European away strike in open play since March.

Ryan Giggs started on the bench, even though he was fit after his latest bout of hamstring trouble, while Denis Irwin replaced Phil Neville in the only change from Saturday.

United, with only two victories in their last nine Champions League away games since winning 3-0 in Graz 15 months ago, mustered the first shot on target after four minutes.

Dwight Yorke let fly from 20 yards and Graz goalkeeper Kazimierz Sidorczuk held it at the second attempt.

Graz have improved greatly since United beat them last year and they had won all six of their subsequent home games.

Andres Fleurquin got away from Gary Neville but the United centre-half recovered to block his cross for a corner, from which Gilbert Prilasnig headed over the bar.

United tested Sidorczuk again when Wes Brown connected with David Beckham's corner only for the Graz goalkeeper to catch the ball as Scholes followed in.

Yorke then blazed over from a decent opening on the right before United opened the scoring on 17 minutes with their first away goal in Europe in open play for 473 minutes.

Yorke crossed from the left, and Teddy Sheringham cleverly back-heeled the ball on for Scholes coming in on the right, who lifted it over Sidorczuk with his right foot and into the far corner.

United continued to press and Sheringham just failed to connect with Beckham's inviting corner.

For once, the visitors seemed to be enjoying a trip away from Old Trafford and they were beginning to knock the ball about with a swagger normally reserved for Premiership games.

Graz could barely get a touch of the ball and when they did have possession they could do little with it.

Yorke played a one-two with Sheringham and went haring forward only to be halted by a sweetly-executed tackle by Ranko Popovic.

Even when Graz did manage a shot on goal they found Fabien Barthez in no mood to be beaten.

The French international did well to push away a 30-yard free-kick from Ivica Vastic, which was heading for the bottom corner.

United could have had a second from a swift counter-attack. Keane won the ball in his own half and found Beckham, who played a great pass up to Yorke on the left side of the area. He knocked the ball on for Sheringham to loop a header over the bar.