Fergie frustrated as ‘freak’ goals cost United
Leading 2-1, from Darren Fletcher’s goal after the hour, United gifted Benfica an equaliser within a matter of moments, costing them what would have been the 100th Champions League victory in their history.
Far more costly than that, however, while the draw took Benfica through to the knockout stages of the tournament, United face an anxious visit to Switzerland next month to face FC Basel.
Anything less than a point and, implausibly, unthinkably, United will not reach the next phase. Even a victory will not assure United of top place in the group, Ferguson’s target before kick-off last night.
This is, to put it simply, the result of playing three games, two against Benfica, one against Basel, and failing to collect a victory in any of them.
“If we’d have held on for a bit we’d have been okay but that’s the game,” said Ferguson. “It’s a cruel game and it was cruel for us tonight.
“It was very disappointing. A bit freakish to be honest with you — an own goal and then a bad kick out from David De Gea.
“Obviously Benfica should win their last game against Otelul Galati and probably score goals. So we have to win and win in a good style. It will be a hard game, the chips are down, but I have every confidence in our team.”
Trailing to an early goal from Benfica — or, more accurately, an own goal by Phil Jones — Dimitar Berbatov was on the end of a well-worked equaliser on the half hour, his first European goal in three years.
Having been told on the morning of the game that he was to play in place of Wayne Rooney, who failed a fitness test on an injured hip, Berbatov also demonstrated why his manager insists he will not entertain offers to allow the Bulgarian to leave Old Trafford.
The goal stemmed from a well-worked quick free-kick, awarded for the latest in a seemingly endless streak of petty fouls from the Portuguese. Ashley Young and Patrice Evra combined to allow Nani to drift over a perfect centre which Berbatov glanced expertly past Artur Moraes.
It had taken United that long to get to grips with the visitors who had swarmed all over United from the opening whistle, taking a grip on midfield and a grip on the game with their third minute opening goal.
United allowed Axel Witsel to find Maxi Pereira whose neat pass, in turn, freed Nico Gaitan down the right side of the United area. He drilled over a dangerous cross but Phil Jones, with nobody directly around him, should still have done better than slice the ball past David de Gea into his own net.
Berbatov’s equaliser saw United begin to assert control of the contest, Fletcher and Michael Carrick in midfield starting to come to terms with Benfica’s bright opening and, after the restart, Young saw a shot blocked and young defender Fabio narrowly failed to beat Artur with an attempted lob.
However, on the hour, an extended period of United pressure culminated in Evra curling over a brilliant cross from the left which found the run of Fletcher perfectly. The initial attempt well blocked by the goalkeeper, the Scotsman responded quickly to turn the ball into an open goal.
That should have been the springboard for United to build upon, especially as they had faced a similar scenario in the home game against Basel when they were guilty of throwing away three goals.
However, United failed to take note. De Gea hurried an appalling clearance directly to Bruno Cesar who powered into the United area and sent over a cross which struck Rio Ferdinand and fell to Pablo Aimar, who needed no second invitation to claim his team’s second goal, just 80 seconds after they had fallen behind.
In keeping with an open and entertaining contest, there were chances at both ends before the final whistle. Berbatov volleyed over from seven yards following a good pass from Fabio while Nani’s near-post cross was flicked behind by a Benfica head, with Javier Hernandez poised. But there were moments that could have meant even more serious trouble for United with Rodrigo placing a late opportunity into the side-netting.
United now face a nervy last-day trip to Switzerland.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-1-1): De Gea 5; Fabio 6 (Smalling 82), Jones 5, Ferdinand 6, Evra 7; Valencia 6 (Hernandez 80, 6), Carrick 7, Fletcher 7, Nani 8; Young 7; Berbatov 6. Subs (not used): Lindegaard, Giggs, Park, Rafael, Gibson.
BENFICA (4-3-3): Artur 7, Maxi Pereira 7, Luisao 6 (Miguel Victor 58, 6), Garay 5, Emerson 7; Witsel 6, Javi Garcia 7, Bruno Cesar 9; Aimar 8 (Amorim 83), Rodrigo Moreno 6, Gaitan 6 (Matic 67, 7). Subs (not used): Eduardo, Cardozo, Nolito, Nelson Oliveira.
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) 7
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