United v Benfica (6/12/06 - 19.45)

[Scott]

Pleased with the result. United played better football and the scoreline was equal to that. After Benfica scored, United looked the way they have done for most of the season. Was confused why we didnt start like that, but suppose we couldnt come out on the all out attack for fear of equalising. Their goal was superb. Saha was on him, but defended like a striker, and just followed the ball rather than marking the player. Really pleased for all of our scorers. Great to see Vida get another, always great when Giggs scored, and Louis needed one in Europe after Celtic.
Ronaldo should have had a penalty as the player got nothing on the ball and floored him, and at 1-0 the player kept the ball out of the net with his arm. But whatever, that doesnt matter, because we had a convincing win regardless. As Scholes showed tonight, Fergie was entirely right when he said his return to fitness would be like signing a new player. He's one of the best players going at the moment.
It was good to see we were able to rest players Scholes and Giggs for derby day, whilst giving Fletcher more game time, and letting Ole have his first game after injury.

[Busby Boy]

Well my day wasn't too good until we won. Got stuck in the unexplicable traffic outside Old Trafford which I hear effected thousands and got to the game with the scoreline at 1-0. Gutted! I never saw the goal, but as soon as I got there United were attacking the Benfica goal and that's how it remained until half time when Vida got the goal.

Great to see him get another, our defence was great from what I saw, I've just seen their goal on SSN and What a fuckin' beauty!

Giggs' and Saha's goals were nice, neat finishes. All goals from headers and three different goalscorers. Giggsy's thirteenth consecutive European campaign which he's scored a goal in, must be some sort of record right?

Whilst listening to the first ten minutes on the radio I picked up that it was VDS and Scholesy's 100th European game, congratulations to them and another congratulations to the Kopenhaven boys...we won the group, get our second leg at home and let's hope it's Real Madrid.

Well done, United and the boys, thoroughly deserved the victory and turned what could've been a truelly shit day into an excellent one for thos ethousands of people stuck in the bastard traffic. Never known anything like it, I'm usually there with about 30 to kick off.

[danishred]

dalbhoy said:

danishred said:

Certainly the best game i have seen all year. (in terms of united outplaying their opponents)

Also, Go København! They played the kilts off of Celtic~!

yep not much to worry about for celtic as they were already in to the next stages

with the exception of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, celtic played with a fairly strong side.

[aussiegraham (Ret.)]

Well worth getting up early for!

When's the draw anyone?

[danishred]

decemver 15-16 give or take a day or two

[gdprof27]

I think I saw on soccernet website that the draw is a week from Friday. That would make it the 15th.

[mufc2911]

pretty much ran home in 3 inch heels from my graduation party at 330am to watch this match.

first 30 mins nearly killed me(certainly neutralised all the vodka in me at least). SAF again employing tactics that we KNOW, from past experience, doesnt work. that said, benfica's goal was something special.

its a bit annoying that it took going a goal down to really wake our boys up, but after the goal, it was pretty much one way traffic.

rio and vida keep going from strength to strength, vidic in particular is quickly turning into one of my favourite players. attacking play was really good once rooney reverted to his normal position. all in all a great game.

any preferences for 2nd round opponents?

[gdprof27]

I want PSV or Real.

[aussiegraham (Ret.)]

gdprof27 said:

I think I saw on soccernet website that the draw is a week from Friday. That would make it the 15th.

Thanks, and to danishred too.

I don't mind who we get, I don't think there are any easy games anyway and don't we seem to raise our standards against better opposition?

[Christopher]

ESPN Soccernet: Ferguson hails 'cut-throat' Man United

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United were at their 'cut-throat' best when they played their trademark attack-focused game in tonight's crucial Champions League victory over Benfica.

The home side at Old Trafford were slow to find their best form in the first half, but were jolted by Nelson's stunning strike which gave the Portuguese side a shock lead and soon raised the level of their performance.

Ferguson told Sky Sports 2: 'We've got to this situation and we seem to torture the supporters and the staff, but at the end of the day we can live with that. 'When Benfica scored, that was what lifted us. As the game went on, we got better and better. '(Initially) we played slowly and didn't cope with their system well. Once we lost the goal we did start to play.'

United began with Wayne Rooney in a deep role, but pushed him forward in the pursuit of an equaliser, which Nemanja Vidic provided just before half-time.

'We got good penetration, put Wayne back in his normal position, and that made a difference,' said Ferguson. 'We've too many young players to play with patience. When they play the cut-throat way, they're a good team.' United went on to win 3-1 after second-half goals from Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha. Ferguson added: 'I think winning the right way is obviously important to this club. 'But if you said before the game, `Would you have taken a scabby goal off someone's knee-cap', I'd have said, `Absolutely'. 'But at the end of the day we've done it this way and I think it's the right way.'

Ferguson insists there will be no easy matches in the second round, despite United finishing top of Group F. Real Madrid and Barcelona are potential opponents, and Ferguson said: 'There's lot of quality there. We appreciate being there, we can look forward to it at the end of February.' With five British teams in the last 16 - United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Celtic and Liverpool - Ferguson is hoping for one of them to go on and win it. 'It's fantastic, absolutely fantastic,' he said. 'One of the British teams can win it, and hopefully it's us.'

[Christopher]

Our slightly more conersative formation from the start w/ Rooney playing on the wing was quickly dumped after we conceeded, and the all-attack game worked a charm.

Ronaldo was once again excellent on the wing, constantly beating players and with the old head of Scholes n Giggs showing their class this was a very impressive performance not least for the great character shown by the team.

[whiskeynose]

Its as simple as this guys: Rooney is our best player. We should never play anywhere other than playing off the fromtman. This is where he is at his best. Last night he was getting frustrated at playing that wide role which just does not suit him or the team. Cant helping thinking this is Queiroz's influence. It needs to be axed from now on. Had we be playing better opposition last night we may have been in trouble at half time. However all we can do at this stage is top the group and that we did! Hopefully this campaign has taught a few lessons in terms of under estimating opposition etc. I think with the right formation/tactics we can win this bloody thing!

[Stew]

I think Fergies quote of " We put Wayne back in his normal position and that made a difference" should be put onto banners around Old Trafford at the next European match....

[stonecarver]

Fuckin' brilliant match ! ;D

Big bad ass hang over now

[Catherine]

gdprof27 said:

I want PSV or Real.

I want Real Madrid too, I so wanna play against Ruud and Beckham! Although i might regret saying that if we get drawn with them and either of them score! I can just imagine Ruud scoring a penalty against us....painful!

But we'll be great against them, they're who i want to get more than any other team. I'd least like to get Barcelona. I was hoping AEK Athens could get a win to go through, They might have been the easiest to get, but you can never underestimate any team. All the teams in the last 16 are strong, whoever we get its gonna be tough.