Manchester United get another helping hand from Benfica’s teenage goalkeeper
Manchester United are on the brink of reaching the Champions League knock-out phase after teenage Be..
Manchester United are on the brink of reaching the Champions League knock-out phase after teenage Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar unwittingly put Jose Mourinho’s men on course for another narrow win.
A fortnight ago the 18-year-old became the youngest goalkeeper to ever play in the competition – a historic night that ended in embarrassment after he misread a Marcus Rashford free-kick and carried it over the line.
This looked to be a far better night for Svilar after he saved Anthony Martial’s early penalty, but misfortune struck the Benfica goalkeeper once again as Nemanja Matic’s shot came back off the post and deflected in off him to set United on course for a 2-0 win wrapped up by Daley Blind.
???? per cent in the @ChampionsLeague! pic.twitter.com/dl2htxyGA8
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 31, 2017
What they said
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: “We train, I analyse, I try to make the right decision. In the last days Martial didn’t miss one when taking so many against three good goalkeepers, and he missed, so sometimes the choice is wrong, but I wanted Daley. It was my decision.”
Tweet of the match
Quite an eventful 2 games for the Benfica goalkeeper Svilar! Two assists in two games! ????
— Mickey T (@therealMickeyT) October 31, 2017
Star man – David De Gea
.@D_DeGea: The wall. #MUFC#UCLpic.twitter.com/pKlssrwBTZ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 31, 2017
Produced an exceptional first-half stop to deny Diogo Goncalves and dealt manfully with everything that was thrown at him. An important display when the going got tough.
Moment of the match
Breakthrough! #MUFC#UCLpic.twitter.com/aqCkWNgE5D
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 31, 2017
Svilar’s first two Champions League matches have not quite gone to plan. Guilty of gifting United victory two weeks ago, the teenage goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Nemanja Matic’s strike going in off his back.
Stat of the match
????? Svilar: "It was a lucky goal, there was nothing I could do."
— SL Benfica EN (@slbenfica_en) October 31, 2017
Svilar became the youngest player in Champions League history to save a penalty – and at 18 years 65 days the youngest player to score an own goal in the competition.
Ratings
"I'm happy with everything."
Post-match reaction from the boss… pic.twitter.com/Jyi4Ay0jlg
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 31, 2017
Manchester United: David de Gea 7 (out of 10), Matteo Darmian 6, Eric Bailly 6, Chris Smalling 6, Daley Blind 6, Scott McTominay 7, Nemanja Matic 7, Juan Mata 6, Jesse Lingard 6, Anthony Martial 6, Romelu Lukaku 7. Subs: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (for Lingard, 45) 6, Ander Herrera (for Mata, 68) 6, Marcus Rashford (for Martial, 75) 7.Benfica: Mile Svilar 7, Douglas 6, Jardel 6, Ruben Dias 6, Alex Grimaldo 7, Pizzi 6,Ljubomir Fejsa 7, Andreas Samaris 6, Eduardo Salvio 6, Diogo Goncalves 7, Raul Jimenez 6. Subs: Eliseu (for Grimaldo, 64) 6, Haris Seferovic (for Gimenez, 75) 6, Jonas (for Pizzi, 79) 6.
Who’s up next?
Chelsea v Manchester United (Premier League, Sunday November 5)
Vitoria Guimaraes v Benfica (Primeira Liga, Sunday November 5)
Source: By PA Sport Staff
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