7 December 2006, by Sean Gillen

Manchester United too strong for Benfica

Manchester United 3-1 Benfica

Benfica crashed out of the Champions League after Manchester United came from behind to record a convincing victory at Old Trafford.

Nelson’s stunning first half strike had given the Portuguese what appeared a priceless lead, but United hit back with goals from Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha to progress to the knockout phase as group winners.


Fernando Santos: “The equaliser changed everything.”

Ronaldo: “We’re playing fantastic. I hope to win the Champions Lg.”


Benfica arrived with a victory the only result that would see them stay in the competition, and coach Fernando Santos kept the same side that beat Sporting so comfortably at Alvalade. United, meanwhile, were at full strength, with Patrice Evra getting the nod over Gabriel Heinze at left-back.

With a good start so important for the visitors, Benfica could not have asked for a better opening 25 minutes. United began with what appeared to be a cautious formation, with Wayne Rooney out wide, and enjoyed plenty of possession but little pressure on the Portuguese goal.

Cristano Ronaldo, who saw plenty of the ball early on, put two shots wide from outside the area, and Rio Ferdinand’s snapshot following a corner was blocked. Benfica then enjoyed a decent spell of passing, and the game became increasingly comfortable for the Lisbon side.

Nelson screamer

Although Benfica had not really offered much going forward, it came as little surprise when they punished United for encouraging them into the game. Simao broke down the left and cut the ball back for Nelson, and the right-back unleashed an unstoppable drive which flew past van Der Sar and into the top corner to send the travelling fans into dreamland.

United reacted well to the setback, however, and Ronaldo forced Quim into a decent save from a trademark free-kick. From the resulting corner, Vidic flicked the ball onto Saha at the back post, but the Frenchman’s effort was blocked by Quim.

With Benfica crying out for half time under intense pressure from United, the all-important equaliser came just seconds before the interval. Ryan Giggs’ free-kick was well delivered into the danger area, and Vidic arrived to head past Quim for his third goal of the season.

The importance of the goal was evident right from the first whistle of the second period. United controlled the half from the outset, and had the Portuguese constantly on the back foot.

Ronaldo assist

Ronaldo had been seeing plenty of the ball on the right side, and had already given Leo a couple of scary moments before setting up United’s second. The Brazilian left-back, seemingly reluctant to commit himself to a challenge, stood off the former Sporting man, and Ronaldo’s pinpoint cross was headed in by Giggs to put United in control.

Immediately after the goal, Simao took the fight to the United defence on his own. The winger was a constant threat, and after troubling the hosts’ back line once, Simao breezed past Patrice Evra but lacked support and failed to find a white shirt.

Santos made substitutions in the hope of reviving Benfica’s challenge, with Paulo Jorge and Giorgias Karagounis coming on, but the changes made little difference. Ronaldo had a decent shout for a penalty turned down after a challenge from Petit, as United looked the more likely to get a third.

From the resulting corner the clinching goal duly arrived. Fletcher’s delivery was met by unchallenged Saha, and the striker’s header beat Leo on the line for his fourth goal in the competition this season.

Rooney threatened on another couple of occasions, as United ran out comfortable winners. Benfica head into the UEFA Cup, while United await their opponents for the next phase in the upcoming draw for the Champions League Super 16 on the 15th of this month.

Man Utd:
Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Heinze 67), Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes (Solskjaer 78), Giggs (Fletcher 73), Saha, Rooney
Yellow Cards: Rooney, Fletcher

Benfica:
Quim, Nelson, Luisao, Ricardo Rocha, Leo, Katsouranis, Petit, Simao, Nuno Assis (Karagounis 73), Miccoli (Paulo Jorge 63), Nuno Gomes
Yellow Cards: Ricardo Rocha

Goals:
[0-1] Nelson, 27
[1-1] Vidic, 45
[2-1] Giggs, 61
[3-1] Saha, 75