ROOKIE KEEPER’S HOWLER GIFTS MAN UNITED WIN AT BENFICA
An embarrassing mistake by Benfica’s 18-yearold goalkeeper Mile Svilar gifted Manchester United a 1-0 win at Benfica in Champions League Group A on Wednesday.
The 18-year old Belgian, the youngest keeper to play in the Champions League, was undone by Marcus Rashford’s long-range free kick in the 64th minute, catching the ball before back-pedalling and carrying it behind the goalline with his arms outstretched.
After breaking into tears at the final whistle, the son of former Serbian goalkeeper Ratko Svilar was consoled by United striker Romelu Lukaku, whose quiet evening underlined the English club’s toothless performance.
The display was almost a carbon copy of Saturday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Liverpool but it extended their unbeaten run in both competitions this season under manager Jose Mourinho and left them top of the section with a maximum nine points.
Swiss side Basel are second with six points after a 2-0 win at CSKA Moscow, three points ahead of the Russian team, while Benfica are bottom with none. Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic also expressed sympathy for Svilar but revealed Mourinho had instructed his team to capitalise on the keeper’s lack of experience.
“The manager said to us to try and shoot and get some crosses towards their goalkeeper because he is young and playing in his first game,” Matic told BT Sport.
“This is football and I know he is a great goalkeeper and I wish him well for the future.
REUTERS