Manchester United win through to knockout stage
Ferguson was delighted with his team's performance
Also In The News
|
The US defence secretary elect has admitted to senators that the US is losing the war in Iraq. |  |
Wednesday, 06, Dec 2006 10:52
Manchester United overcame a shaky start to progress into the knockout stage of the Champions League by beating Benfica 3-1 at Old Trafford.
United went behind after 26 minutes to a Marcos Nelson screamer from 25 yards which gave United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar no chance - the winger curling the ball into the top left-hand corner of the goal.
Conceding seemed to shock United into action and they then took the game by the scruff of the neck. This eventually paid off when Nemanja Vidic headed in a Ryan Giggs free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
The home side maintained the ascendancy after the break and took the lead on the hour mark through Ryan Giggs' header from the centre of the box as he met Cristiano Ronaldo's cross from the right.
United had been dominant from the moment they conceded the first goal and after taking the lead were able to cruise through the rest of the game.
Louis Saha put the tie beyond any doubt with 20 minutes left. Darren Fletcher, having just come on as a substitute for Giggs, took a corner from the right which was met by Saha at the near post about ten yards out and he found the back of the net.
The win means that United, who were in danger of dropping out of the competition, finished top of their group and will now be seeded for the next round of games.