United Crash Out of Europe - End of an Era?

Goalscorer
By Chris O'Brien
December 8 2005

Manchester United crashed out of Europe with a 2-1 defeat against a skilful Benfica side. It is a bitterly dissappointing result and has mounted pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson after the club served up numerous dismal performances in a Champions League campaign to forget.

There was no spirit of 1966 or 1968 and there was no Manchester United revival. Sir Alex Ferguson is really feeling the heat with his side crashing out of Europe with a 2-1 reverse in Benfica, failing to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League for the first time in over a decade.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Rangers supporters will continue their European adventures in the last 16 of the continental competition. For United, concentration must now turn to domestic matters after a dismal qualification campaign which saw the club win only one of their six games, netting just three goals and six points in the process.

It had all started so well. United pushed forward in numbers as a hostile atmosphere roared around the Stadium of Light. A draw was always likely to be enough, but Ferguson showed his attacking intensions by starting Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Alan Smith in midfield. Wayne Rooney and Ruud Van Nistelrooy were handed the responsibility for goals, but it was Scholes who was on target for the visitors and after only six minutes.

Giggs, who was otherwise largely anonymous, fed the returning Gary Neville down the right wing. The defender cut inside and delivered a neat, low cross to the incoming Scholes who bundled the ball home. It was the midfielder's second goal in successive games and as players and fans celebrated alike, few would have predicted what the rest of the opening period would behold.

United sat back and looked rather nervous. Defensive errors were made and the players really struggled to keep possession as they looked to hold onto their slender lead. Benfica, who needed victory to stand any chance of Champions League progression, attacked in numbers and enjoyed great space on the ball. The lacklustre defending was punished on 16 minutes as the hosts restored parity. Nelson whipped in a curling cross that resulted in a diving header from Geovanni that left Van Der Sar with no chance.

The scores were still level between Villarreal and Lille so as it stood United had to score again. However, the attacking threat was non-existent and the initiative was with the home side. Paul Scholes did go close with a long-range effort that was tipped over the crossbar, but United's big names were not performing and Ronaldo was particularly under pressure. The former Sporting Lisbon star was desperate to make an impression against his ex-club's biggest rivals, but he looked greedy and allowed an intimidating home crowd to get on top of him as he was booked for a petulant kick at Beto.

Beto had the last laugh though with the goal that ultimately knocked United out of Europe. After their equaliser, the Lisbon side dominated proceedings and looked dangerous on the attack but remained patient as they searched for a second strike. Alan Smith, again looking uncomfortable in the defensive midfield role, headed the ball directly to the Brazilian who was given the time to drill a low shot through the penalty area and to the left of a helpless Edwin Van Der Sar.

United's lack of creativity continued into the second-half. The best chance of the half came just before the hour mark as Scholes and Van Nistelrooy linked up superbly leaving Ronaldo with time and space in front of goal and players in the middle. He snatched at his shot and sent it wide. Sir Alex had seen enough Ronaldo was replaced by Ji-Sung Park only moments after Louis Saha was brought on in replace of the out-of-sorts Giggs.

News filtered through of Villarreal's goal in Spain. United needed just a point and should have thrown caution to the wind to look for it. However, Benfica still looked the more confident and were far more threatening. Joao Pereira should have scored as he wasted space and time to shoot wide of the target whilst the travelling Red Army looked on in anger as United continued to lose possession and struggle to create chances. It was so worrying and was not a performance that warranted a place in the last 16 in Europe. It didn't get it. Time ran out and as Benfica celebrated, United players staggered off the pitch knowing they are out of Europe altogether and some ten points behind leaders Chelsea in the Premiership.

There will be no post-Christmas European nights at Old Trafford, no challenges against Real Madrid, AC Milan or Barcelona and there is no Uefa Cup consolation. Wholesale changes are needed.

Full Time - Benfica 2-1 Manchester United
Attendance - 61,000

Benfica: Quim, Alcides, Luisao, Anderson, Leo (Ricardo Rocha 90), Nuno Assis (Joao Pereira 73), Petit, Beto, Nelson, Nuno Gomes, Geovanni (Mantorras 80).
Substitutes Not Used: Nereu, Bruno Aguiar, Dos Santos, Roque.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea (Richardson 87), Ronaldo (Park 67), Smith, Scholes, Giggs (Saha 60), Rooney, van Nistelrooy.
Substitutes Not Used: Howard, Brown, Fletcher, Bardsley.