Benfica 1 Manchester U 1:THERE WILL come a time when Ryan Giggs is stood besuited and before the TV cameras on a touchline in Europe as Manchester United supporters sing his name and reminisce in the background, as Roy Keane experienced here last night. But time, mercifully for United, continues to wait for the remarkable Welshman.
Giggs struck a superb equaliser for United as their latest quest to dethrone Barcelona survived a demanding test in Lisbon. His 27th Champions League goal, at the age of 37 years and 289 days, ensured the oldest scorer in the competition now holds another record; overtaking Raul with a goal in 16 successive seasons at the highest level of European competition.
It was also a night to savour for Anders Lindegaard, the United reserve goalkeeper who staked his claim with several fine saves and a commanding presence against an impressive home side.
Benfica surprised United in 2005, Alex Ferguson’s last failure to advance beyond the group stage, then the holders Liverpool a year later, and served notice of another difficult night for Premier League opposition with an authoritative start here.
Quick to surround Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher whenever the hub of United’s midfield gained possession, Benfica disrupted the visitors’ rhythm for much of the first half. It required the excellence of Giggs plus, at the opposite end of the pitch and age-scale, several vital interceptions from Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans to deny them a merited interval lead.
A new, youthful and vibrant era has been the narrative of United’s finest start to a Premier League season, but their first outing in the Champions League involved seven of the side soundly beaten by Barcelona at Wembley in May. One surprise change came in goal where Lindegaard was handed his first start of the campaign as Ferguson, who had toyed with the idea of resting the improving David de Gea at Bolton last Saturday, gave the Denmark international valuable playing time while illustrating the strength of competition at the club.
Initially Lindegaard’s biggest problem was the assistant referee behind his goal, who insisted the United goalkeeper move a towel further into the corner of his net. He was well-protected by a diligent United defence, moreover, with Smalling denying the impressive left-winger Nicolas Gaitan and then Pablo Aimar with last-ditch challenges, and also profited from a wasteful finish by Gaitan and saved well from his first test of the night, when Oscar Cardozo shot low through a crowded area.
Their next confrontation produced a resounding victory for the Paraguay centre-forward, however. Gaitan instigated the breakthrough with a delightful cross-field ball with the outside of his left foot. Cardozo provided a finish to compare, controlling with his chest, shaping to cut inside Evans with his left foot and then going on the outside before beating Lindegaard with a powerful finish with his right.
Wayne Rooney was then harshly booked for a challenge on the Benfica goalkeeper Artur after play had been halted due to Jesus venturing outside his technical area and into a row with the fourth official. Moments after the collision, Artur collapsed needlessly to the floor and Rooney, one of several players unaware the game had stopped, received the first yellow card of the game.
United’s composure wavered and it required fine covering from Antonio Valencia to prevent Gaitan capitalising on Javi Garcia’s piercing pass into the area. But just as Benfica thought they had the ascendancy, the Champions League’s oldest goalscorer and record appearance-maker illustrated why he did not follow Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar into retirement last season.
Valencia was again involved, breaking forward and finding Giggs from the right. The Portuguese defence backed off with fatal consequence as the Welshman strode on and sent an unstoppable left-foot shot into Artur’s top corner from 20 yards.
Giggs almost delivered a second outstanding goal midway through a far more open second half. Collecting a pass from Rooney, the midfielder ghosted past three Benfica defenders inside the area only for Artur to divert his shot wide. Fletcher, making his first start since contracting a virus in March, and Valencia also tested the Benfica goalkeeper as United’s threat improved greatly.
It was Lindegaard who produced the saves of the night. Benfica continued to take the game to United and a rapid counter-attack involving Gaitan and Aimar ended with the substitute Nolito striking the ball low towards the far corner and the Dane making a superb stop to his left. He then tipped Gaitan’s curling effort from the right over the bar and was reprieved with Nolito shot wide from only six yards in the dying seconds as United claimed, in the circumstances, a welcome point.
BENFICA: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao,Garay, Emerson, Amorim (Nolito 56), Javi Garcia, Witsel, Aimar (Matic 75), Cardozo, Gaitan (Bruno Cesar 90). Subs not used: Eduardo, Machado, Saviola, Jardel. Booked: Aimar, Maxi Pereira, Gaitan.
MAN UTD: Lindegaard, Fabio Da Silva (Jones 78), Evans, Smalling, Evra,Fletcher (Hernandez 69), Carrick,Giggs, Valencia (Nani 69), Rooney,Park. Subs not used: De Gea, Owen, Anderson, Berbatov. Booked: Rooney, Carrick.
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia).
