LUCKY NIGHT FOR JOSE
Own goal sets up victory
JOSE MOURINHO should think about putting Benfica keeper Mile Svilar on the Manchester United payroll.
Two weeks ago Svilar produced an horrendous mistake to gift United a 1-0 win in Lisbon on his Champions League debut.
The rookie was at it again last night with an own goal before half-time to hand the home side another European gift.
To be fair to Svilar, this time there was nothing he could do to stop the goal.
Blasted
Nemanja Matic tried his luck from long range with a raking strike that Svilar tried to save, but the ball hit the post and then the teenager’s back before rebounding into the net.
His night had started so well when he appeared to have redeemed himself after saving a penalty from Anthony Martial as United looked to book their place in the knockout stages.
But it got worse in the 78th minute when Daley Blind blasted United’s second from the spot after Marcus Rashford was tripped in the box just after coming on as a sub.
Mourinho made six changes from the side that beat Tottenham last weekend and handed a full Champions League debut to Scott McTominay. But there was no rest for Romelu Lukaku as United tried to make it four straight wins in the group.
The visitors arrived bottom of the group, still searching for their first point.
Martial won and took the spotkick after going down under a clumsy challenge from Douglas on 16 minutes.
But there was no conviction in his penalty and Svilar got down sharply to his right to palm the ball behind.
Moments later Benfica almost took the lead themselves when Diogo Goncalves let rip with a stunning effort from 35 yards that forced David De Gea into a flying save.
Lukaku was desperate to end his barren spell having gone five games without a goal heading into this one. Jesse Lingard gave him a chance to do just this on 31 minutes with an accurate cross, but Lukaku headed high over the crossbar.
Martial blazed a shot high and wide as United struggled.
But there was no need to panic as long as Svilar was in the Benfica goal and United couldn’t believe their luck when he helped Matic’s shot over the line on 44 minutes.
Despite leading there was nothing convincing about United as they laboured through the game. Benfica came close to equalising on 61 minutes when Goncalves burst through only to see his angled shot superbly saved by De Gea, before Raul Jimenez hit the post after Eric Bailly’s mistake.
United needed a second goal for comfort but chances were few and far between – until Rashford won the penalty after being tripped by Andreas Samaris and Mourinho’s boys all but booked their place in the last 16. MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Darmian, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; McTominay, Matic; Mata, Lingard, Martial; Lukaku. Subs: Romero, Lindelof, Young, Rashford, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Shaw. BENFICA (4-3-3): Svilar; Douglas, Jardel, Dias, Grimaldo; Pizzi, Fejsa, Augusto; Salvio, Jimenez, Goncalves. Subs: Cesar, Lopez, Samaris, Jonas, Seferovic, Eliseu, Cervi. Ref: Gediminas Mazeika (Lithuania). Sky Bet League One Blackburn (0) ............. 2 Fleetwood (0) ........... 2