BENFICA 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Marcus Rashford scored a precious second half goal that won this Champions League game at Benfica but then limped off late in the game as Manchester United earned their third straight win in this season’s Champions League to top Group A three points ahead of second placed Basel.
Jose Mourinho made four changes from the goalless draw at Anfield, with key players still out injured but Marcus Rashford returned following an injury before the international break to replace Anthony Martial.
Victor Lindelof, Daley Blind and Juan Mata also returned to the starting line-up as Phil Jones, Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young stepped down to the bench.
Lindelof and Nemanja Matic were facing their old club along with Mourinho but the game was not one for the romantic football fan as it more closely resembled United’s trip to Liverpool last Saturday for much of the game with the Reds opting to ensure another clean sheet – their ninth in thirteen games this season.
The Reds struggled in the early stages as chances were incredibly rare against Benfica who only sporadically troubled United after a good opening quarter of the game.
United improved in the second half as they began to press home their territorial advantage by varying the pace and angle of their attacks but they were struggling to make an impact with Marcus Rashford once again showing his value to the United team by making life difficult for Benfica with his movement and decision making.
Rashford had been testing Mile Svilar in goal several times on the night with curling shots and free kicks and one set piece from the left was swung in and finally beat the teenager from a free kick in the 65th minute.
The inexperienced Belgian became the youngest goalkeeper to play in the Champions League at 18 years and 52 days – beating Iker Casillas’ record.
He was caught off his line by the England forward, whose whipped deliveries had troubled him throughout, and had to quickly backpedal to catch the ball but momentum took him and the ball inside his goal – a fact confirmed by goal-line technology.
No wonder that Mourinho showed concern when Rashford hobbled off 12 minutes later with what initially appeared to be a non-serious knee injury but at least the Reds deserved their pragmatic win in the end as they ended strongly having effectively given David De Gea the night off with Benfica not even seriously testing the Spaniard on the night and having Luisao sent off in added time for a second booking.