Saha Sinks Benfica

Winning Strike
By Chris O'Brien
September 30 2006

Louis Saha's 60th minute strike, against the run of play, gave Manchester United a crucial European away win in Benfica. The visitors found themselves under plenty of pressure for long periods of the game, but defended stoutly to claim three valuable points.

A second-half strike from Louis Saha secured Manchester United claimed their first European away win for three years and set them up nicely to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

It was a nervous evening for the Red Army who saw the hosts dominate the first-half, only for United to battle back after the break to secure a crucial three points.

Benfica were responsible for United's early European Cup elimination last season and, once again, looked set to derail our continental hopes with an impressive attacking display over the opening 45 minutes. United struggled to settle with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick booked within the first ten minutes, and attacking options were severely limited with Wayne Rooney starting the game on the left flank.

Veteran Edwin Van Der Sar was on excellent form for United and did brilliantly to save from Giorgios Karagounis, before Nuno Gomes fired a powerful effort inches wide of the woodwork. However, despite their dominance, Benfica weren't creating enough clear cut opportunities and the Red Devils held on until the interval with parity intact.

The winning strike came on the hour mark, against the run of play. The French international picked up the ball on the right hand side, cut inside the Benfica defence and fired an awesome left-footed strike passed helpless 'keeper Quim. It was smash and grab stuff from the visitors who had looked as if they would struggle to hold on for a point, but went onto enjoy the better chances after breaking the deadlock.

Saha fired wide from a Carrick cross, whilst Gabriel Heinze also went close from a free-kick as United looked to put the result beyond doubt. The introduction of Darren Fletcher and Alan Smith, making his first appearance since that horrific leg break at Anfield, meant the visitors could sit back and they ended up comfortably holding on for the points.

United can count themselves lucky to leave Portugal with all three points having been on the back foot for the best part of an hour. Saha's strike turned the game completely and United, with six points from two European ties, look in good stead to qualify from a tricky group. Celtic secured a narrow home win over FC Copenhagen to boost their chances of progression, meaning the Reds can go through if they complete back-to-back wins over the Danes.

Bring on the Barcodes.

Full Time - Benfica 0-1 Manchester United
Attendance - 61,000

Benfica: Quim, Alcides, Luisao, Anderson (Mantorras 82), Leo, Petit, Katsouranis, Karagounis (Nuno Assis 62), Paulo Jorge (Miccoli 65), Nuno Gomes, Simao.
Substitutes Not Used: Moretto, Beto, Nelson, Ricardo Rocha.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Carrick, O'Shea, Scholes, Rooney (Fletcher 86), Saha (Smith 85).
Substitutes Not Used: Kuszczak, Evra, Brown, Solskjaer, Richardson.