Manchester United vs Benfica
Match pulse
MANAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Man United 3-1
Manchester United beat Benfica 3-1 on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at Old Trafford. Goals for Man United: Nemanja Vidić (45'+1'), Ryan Giggs (61') and Louis Saha (75'). Goals for Benfica: Nélson (27').
Play by play
- 90'
Gameover and United are through to the last 16 and Benfica are out thanks to a pair of second half headers
- 90'
But that's full-time!
- 89'
Some tricksy juggling from Ronaldo who goes on one last run...
- 88'
Heinze tries his luck with a strange long distance effort - high and wide is the result
- 87'
The life is drained out of the game - there is no doubt as to the result and the players know it; they're just going through the motions
- 86'
Rooney tries his luck from 35 yards, but the ball was under his feet and his shot was pulled wide
- 85'
United playing keep-ball, spreading play and further frustrating Benfica who must not just want to get on the plane and go home
- 84'
A long clearance from Van der Sar finds Saha, who checks inside to find Carrick
- 83'
Vidic with a fair, but forceful challenge on Nelson brings a promising, it half-hearted, Benfica attack to an end
- 81'
Ten minutes to go and the game had almost ground to a halt before United saw a gap: Fletcher began the move and Rooney finished it with a low drive from distance.
- 79'
Karagounis is doing his best to inject some urgency into the Benfica side; bless him.
- 78'
A yellow card for Fletcher
- 78'
Solskjaer joins the game as Scholes is subbed.
- 77'
Old Trafford finds its collective voice as some, though not all, Benfica players look shell-shocked
- 76'
15 minutes to go, United 3-1 up and Ferguson has the result he wanted
- 75'
Saha shakes off the attentions of Nelson before climbing to meet the corner with a sharp header which was too strong for Quim. Game over, surely?
- 74'
ANOTHER GOAL FOR UNITED!! 3-1!
- 74'
A half shout for a penalty, but United settle for a corner
- 73'
And a United change: Bye-bye Ryan Giggs, Hi there Darren Fletcher
- 72'
Benfica sub: Thank you and goodnight to Assis, hello and welcome to Giorgias Karagounis
- 71'
A nice move from Untied ends with an unselfish pass from Rooney aimed at Ronaldo being cut out by a defender
- 70'
Carrick wrests control of midfield and tries to slide a pass through to Saha - it would have looked great had it worked! Perhaps a simple pass wide to Giggs or Ronaldo would have been wiser?
- 69'
Simao takes, but Carrick is there to head clear. Benfica are pressing as United have taken their foot of the gas ever so slightly
- 68'
Freekick for Benfica on the right corner of United penalty area.
- 67'
A change for United, Evra limps off with a frown on his face as Gabby Heinze takes his place at left-back.
Leaders
MANSLB 
