Tuesday 22/11/2011
Champions League Group Stage
Manchester United stumble at home leaving everything to play for going into their final group C clash.
United were without injured Wayne Rooney and suspended captain Nemanja Vidic for the Old Trafford encounter with Benfica. Instead we saw a return of Dimitar Berbatov up front with summer signing Phil Jones starting in the centre of defence along side Rio Ferdinand. Ashley Young was making his first start after a three week lay off with a toe injury and found himself playing as the support striker, with Luis Nani and Antonio Valencia deployed on the wings.
United were stunned just three minutes in when Nicolas Gaitan broke down the left, playing a low cross into the box which Phil Jones inadvertently turned into his own net. A cruel piece of luck for the 19 year old. United found themselves behind and in need of a win to have any realistic chance of topping the group. The home sides play was lumbered with a real lack of cutting edge in the final third. Benfica were looking to hit United again on the counter with Gaitan and Pablo Aimar, who both looked particularly threatening.
Twenty minutes in, the hosts finally started to get some rhythm to their passing. On the half an hour mark United were level after Berbatov rose highest to meet Nani's cross. Berbatov's sublime finish was his first Champions League goal since 2008 and now they were back in it. The crowd roared as United looked to push themselves into the lead. Mere moments later this almost happened when Ashley Young was one on one with the Benfica 'keeper following a precise through ball from Berbatov. Artur smothered Young's shot well as United missed their opportunity to go in front. Seconds later Benfica broke and David De Gea had to be on full alert to palm away Pablo Aimar's powerful drive.
Following a frantic few minutes of play the game calmed down into half time with the score still one a piece. The second half started like the first with the visitors looking composed on the ball and not giving United's midfield time to breathe. However like the first again United began to find their feet as the half went on. Fabio wasted a golden opportunity as he attempted to chip Artur from close range, where the Portuguese 'keeper simply caught the ball. As we reached the hour mark United made their pressure tell, following a penalty area scramble Patrice Evra swung in a quality cross from the left which Darren Fletcher dispatched from close range after a second bite at the cherry.
United were ahead in the tie for the first time, and their lack of concentration following the goal would be their downfall on the night. A mere 80 seconds after the restart Pablo Aimar levelled things once again as he poked home from close range following an ill-advised pass out of defence from David De Gea. This lack of composure meant all United's hard work had been undone in an instant, as they found themselves back at square one.
United struggled to replicate the pressure which had managed to put them ahead, and one clear cut chance they forged was wasted, as Dimitar Berbatov volleyed over from 10 yards. 2-2 it finished as United had drawn their 3rd game of the campaign leaving them them needing at least a draw from their final group game away at FC Basel to ensure qualification.
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