Manchester United 2 - 2 Benfica: ‘Freak’ goals leave United in a sweat

SIR Alex Ferguson felt that his Manchester United side were undone by two “freakish” moments after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Benfica in last night’s Champions League encounter at Old Trafford.

United’s hopes of qualifying for the last 16 will go down to the final round of Group C games after their Portuguese visitors moved into the driving seat at the summit thanks to an unexpected point. United fell behind early on through Phil Jones’ own goal, but equalised on the half-hour through Dimitar Berbatov and then went in front through Darren Fletcher.

But Pablo Aimar secured a point for Benfica after goalkeeper David De Gea’s poor clearance caused chaos in the United defence, to leave Ferguson’s men needing at least a point from their trip to Basel next month to make it into the knockout stage. Ferguson said: “It was very disappointing. A bit freakish to be honest with you – an own goal and then a bad kick out from David De Gea. The passback could have been a little bit better but David should just have played it into the stands.

“But we played so well tonight, made some good chances and played some good football. I’ve no fault with my players at all – we deserved better. It’s a cruel game at times and it was cruel for us tonight.”

Ferguson felt the early own goal – coming after just three minutes – unsettled his players. “We had a bad start and it takes the wind from your sails a little bit, but once they got into the game they played really well and we should have been maybe two or three up at half-time,” he said.

United now look unlikely to top the group, with Benfica expected to win their final game against Romanian minnows Otelul Galati. Ferguson’s men must avoid defeat in their tricky trip to Basle to qualify, with the Swiss side just one point behind. “It’s going to be a hard game,” said Ferguson of the of the December 7 showdown. “The chips are down for us but I have every confidence in my team.”

The Portuguese took a shock lead in the fourth minute when Nicolas Gaitan fired the ball across the box and Jones diverted it past De Gea into his own net. Moments later Benfica won a corner and it came to Bruno Cesar, who rifled a shot narrowly wide. United found their back into the match and they drew level the 30th minute. Nani delivered a cross from the left and it came to Berbatov, who glanced it into the far corner. The hosts were well on top in the second half, with Nani striking a free-kick into the wall, and a surging run by Jones seeing the ball break to Fabio, who could only fire it straight at Artur. United then went ahead in the 59th minute as Evra’s cross found Fletcher, the Scotland captain finishing at the second attempt after his initial shot had squirmed under Artur’s body.

The lead lasted only a minute, though, as De Gea’s poor clearance came to Cesar, whose cross bounced off Rio Ferdinand and was converted from close range by Aimar. Berbatov thought he had restored United’s advantage as he tapped in Ashley Young’s delivery, but the assistant referee had his flag raised for offside.

Man Utd: De Gea,Fabio Da Silva (Smalling 82), Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia (Hernandez 80), Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Young, Berbatov. Subs not used: Lindegaard, Giggs, Park, Rafael Da Silva, Gibson.

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao (Miguel Vitor 58), Garay, Emerson, Witsel, Javi Garcia, Bruno Cesar, Aimar (Amorim 83), Rodrigo Moreno, Gaitan (Matic 67). Subs not Used: Eduardo, Cardozo, Nolito, Nelson Oliveira.