UCL: Manchester United 2-0 Benfica

Red Devils Edge Past Brave Benfica

Manchester United maintained their 100% start in Champions League Group A with a 2-0 win against Benfica at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho’s men knew a fourth successive win could have sealed their place in the last-16 of the competition and they should have taken an early lead but Anthony Martial saw his penalty saved. However, United did go ahead just before half-time when young Benfica keeper Mile Svilar was unfortunate to concede an own goal.

Benfica threatened to spoil United’s perfect record after the break, but Daley Blind sealed the win 12 minutes form time with a s econd penalty of the maqtch. But United still have to wait to reach the knockout stages as CSKA Moscow won 2-1 at Basel.

Benfica enjoyed a bright start to the game and went close with efforts from Andreas Samaris and Raul Jimenez inside the opening 10 minutes. United were handed a great chance to take the lead in the 15th minute when Martial was awarded a fortunate penalty after Douglas was adjudged to have tripped him in the area, but the young French striker saw his spot-kick saved by Svilar.

The save spurred on Benfica and they were denied an opening goal from Diogo Goncalves on 18 minutes when his effort from just outside the area was brilliantly saved by David de Gea.

United managed to settle down and Romelu Lukaku went close on the half-hour with a low strike through the legs of Jardel from the edge of the area which Svilar got down well to save at his near post. Two minutes later the teenage keeper managed to usher a header from Lukaku over his own crossbar after Blind put a teasing cross into the Benfica area.

United continued to press and were rewarded with the opening goal in fortuitous circumstances right on half time. Nemanja Matic hit a left-foot strike from 25 yards which hit the popst and rebounded back into the net off Svilar.

United started the second half sluggishly which handed the initiative to Benfica with Jimenez firing straight at De Gea on 57 minutes, before Goncalves hot an effort towards the bottom corner which the big Spanish shot-stopper again turned away with another great save on the hour.

Benfica should have equalised on 66 minutes when Eric Bailly’s sloppy ball across his area was pounced on by Jimenez but, despite beating the dive of De Gea, his left-foot strike hit off the post.

However, United sealed the game on 78 minutes when Marcus Rashford was fouled by Samaris in the area moments after coming off the bench to replace Martial and Blind stepped up to convert the penalty.