KEEPER’S GIFT GOAL FOR JOSE
United wrap it up with kid gloves
ROOKIE goalkeeper Mile Svilar’s colossal clanger handed Manchester United victory in Lisbon.
The teenager was making his Champions League debut for Benfica and became the youngest keeper in tournament history.
But his big night turned into a disaster when the 18-year-old caught Marcus Rashford’s 40yard free-kick, before stumbling backwards and carrying the ball over the line.
It was a nightmare for the youngster in front of his fans and the 65th-minute goal was a major let-off for United as they struggled to break down the Portuguese champions.
Confidence
This was a game for red-hot favourites United to win and put one foot in the knockout stages.
The visitors went into the clash high on confidence following two opening wins that had sent them to the top of the group.
Boss Jose Mourinho made four changes to the side that drew at Liverpool on Saturday, including a recall for Victor Lindelof against the club he left for United in a summer deal worth £30.75m. Daley Blind, Juan Mata and England ace Rashford also returned to the starting line-up, with Matteo Darmian, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young dropping to the bench.
Svilar’s first touch was with his head as he charged from goal to intercept a long ball forward from Lindelof ahead of Romelu Lukaku.
It was the hosts who created the first real opening after 14 minutes thanks to a mesmerising run from Alex Grimaldo.
The left-back weaved through the United defence and crossed for Eduardo Salvio, but he flashed his instant shot just wide.
Benfica broke through the United defence again after 28 minutes when Ruben Dias burst down the left but his cross was too close to United keeper David De Gea, who did well to snuff out the danger. It took a sluggish United more than half an hour to register a threat on the home goal.
Blind found some time and space on the left to deliver a deep cross to the back post, but all Rashford could do was send his header over the top.
Moments later, Lukaku sent in a dangerous cross destined for Rashford, but Luisao managed to hook the ball clear in spectacular fashion to save a certain goal.
United were starting to get into their stride and Nemanja Matic was the next to threaten.
The Serbian powerhouse drove into the penalty box but his diagonal drive was well blocked by Svilar.
Mistake
A defensive mistake let in Henrikh Mkhitaryan just before half-time but having charged down on goal, he sliced well wide.
United famously won here 5-1 in 1966 and beat Benfica in the European Cup Final at Wembley two years later.
But there was little chance of United achieving anywhere close to the same levels of excitement last night.
Even when United had half a chance, Benfica were intent on doing whatever it took to stop them.
Rashford picked up a loose ball inside his own half and started charging at a backpedalling home defence, but his run was stopped when Diogo Goncalves grabbed him by the collar to haul him down.
At least Rashford was showing some positive intent, unlike Lukaku and Mkhitaryan alongside him.
Matic was one of the few United stars to emerge with credit and he took matters into his hands just before the hour with a longrange piledriver that flew just over the crossbar.
After Svilar’s blunder, United held on and Benfica lost captain Luisao, who was sent off in injury time after a second booking. BENFICA (4-3-3): Svilar; Douglas, Dias, Luisao, Grimaldo; Pizzi, Fejsa, Augusto; Salvio, Jimenez, Goncalves. Subs: Cesar, Lopez, Samaris, Jonas, Seferovic, Zivkovic, Cervi. MAN UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Lindelof, Blind; Herrera, Matic; Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford; Lukaku. Subs: Romero, Young, Jones, Martial, Lingard, Darmian, McTominay. Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany).