IT’S RASH &
Rashford settles it with bizarre goal as Benfica’s kid keeper
IT was more blunder than wonder goal but showed why Marcus Rashford is the pick of his generation.
Teenager Rashford struck Manchester United’s winner with an incredible 40-yard free kick to make it a night that Benfica’s rookie keeper Mile Svilar will never forget.
Belgian teenager Svilar, 18, became the youngest keeper to play in the Champions League but the piece of history will be remembered for his terrible 65th-minute error.
Rashford clearly just took a punt, swinging the ball from the left flank into the box, knowing the keeper might make a mistake as his flashy style made him look like an accident waiting to happen.
Sure enough, Svilar got his positioning wrong, could not readjust his feet and ended up catching the ball only then to stumble backwards and carry it over the line. United players celebrated wildly while German referee Felix Zwayer checked with the goal-line technology and TV replays were also good enough to show it was well over.
Benfica boss Rui Vitoria, who had left ex-QPR and Brazil keeper Julio Cesar on the bench, put his hand on his head and shook his head in utter frustration.
Sadly Rashford, who does not turn 20 until the end of the month, saw his own night end in despair as he hobbled off injured after 76 minutes. He looked distraught when he went off – a really bad sign considering United’s long injury list which includes Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini.
Maybe those injuries are taking their toll because United were largely disappointing in Lisbon and they took a long time to get going. In fact, it was always going to take a freak of a goal for either team to score.
United have lost their earlyseason spring in their step with the sort of malaise which put them out of the title race last year. They were as flat as Jose Mourinho’s mood, frustrated at the first sign of criticism after the bore draw at Anfield on Saturday and people refusing to pander to his huge ego.
Benfica’s stadium looked half-empty as the locals are fed up after a poor start to the season and rising ticket prices.
They have sold their best players, including Manchester City keeper Ederson and United defender Victor Lindelof, and despite having their moments did not force