Soccer-Tevez the new Cantona, says Ferguson

By Pete Oliver

MANCHESTER, England, March 3 (Reuters) - Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez is the present day equivalent of Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona, according to United manager Alex Ferguson.

Cantona took on iconic status at United during a five-year spell in which he helped the club to four league titles and two FA Cups before retiring in 1997.

Tevez has shown some of the goal-scoring characteristics of former France international Cantona with his latest goal giving United the edge as they prepare to meet Olympique Lyon in the second leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday night.

"Carlos reminds me of Eric Cantona in the way that he has a knack of rising to the occasion with a goal just when it's needed," writes Ferguson in the match programme.

"He often comes up with the goods away from home when you are up against it. I don't think anything fazes him and he keeps his cool in the box."

Argentina international Tevez has scored 15 times for United this season, including the late equaliser at Lyon which produced a 1-1 draw in the last-16 tie.

Ferguson added: "Tevez is proving a master at scoring the really important goals - the ones that give you a win or a draw, especially away from home.

"He did it at Tottenham (Hotspur) to salvage a point as he made the result 1-1. He scored for a 1-0 win at Liverpool and now he has rescued us again by finding the net late and nullifying Lyon's lead."