Benfica 2 v 1 Manchester United
Stade de Luz, Lisbon
7th December 2005
Manchester United were unceremoniously dumped out of europe yesterday by a struggling Benifca side, in Ronaldo's home country.
Following a dismal run of European games, United were felled by the Portuguese former-superpowers, and were left rueing what might have been.
A strong United side, led by captain Gary Neville, took to the field, with Giggs and Ronaldo on the flanks, Rooney and Scholes inside and Van Nistelrroy upfront. And they got their dream start when, after just 6 minutes, Scholes bundled home a low Gary Neville cross.
Just when it looked it was all going so right, it all went so wrong.
United capitulated possession on too many occassions, and were left running around chasing the ball. Their failure to get the important tackles in led to Benfica's equaliser.
A cross from the edge of the 18 yard box was left by all four of the United defenders, leaving Geovanni on his own to put the finishing touch with a diving header from just two yards out.
On 34 it got worse, with Beto banging the ball at goal, only for it to take a massive deflection and bounce in past the flailing van der Sar.
Half-time should have seen a shake-up, but Fergie left it how it was, and it continued as before, with United squandering possession, getting caught on the ball, and failing to make chances.
Saha entered and held the ball up well, and Rooney and Smith coninued fighting, but for the rest, it was as if the game was a friendly.
Ferdinand in particular was clumsy, slip shod, and purveyed a feeling of generally not being bothered about the game at all. And hes on £120,000 a week?!
Villareal did their part, ensuring that United only needed a draw to go through, and there would have been some justice had United scored in the dying moments to go through and Benfica been left thinking about whetehr they should have whiled away those last 20 minutes through playacting!
Glazer may have wanted us in the UEFA cup at the very least, but I for one am glad we are not there. United would not have made any money from me as we faced rubbish teams in the rounds, and what consolation would winning it be anyway?! Better to be out altogether, and hope that our fresher boys can stand up to the challenge of the Premiership. If they don't, Fergie's on his way.
Subs Not Used: Nereu, Bruno Aguiar, Dos Santos, Roque.
Booked: Beto, Geovanni, Petit.
Goals: Geovanni 16, Beto 34.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea (Richardson 87), Ronaldo (Park 67), Smith, Scholes, Giggs (Saha 60), Rooney, van Nistelrooy.
