Manchester United were indebted to a goal from Ryan Giggs brilliant as they drew 1-1 with Benfica on Wednesday, despite a lower than normal performance in their Champions League Group C opening.
Giggs, 37, sent a rocket into the top corner three minutes before the break to cancel Oscar Cardozo starter for Benfica 24 minutes that seemed destined to break their opponents in the early season momentum.
In Lisbon, the iconic Estádio da Luz, a shadow of the United side that reached the top of the Premier League with 18 goals in their first four matches.
It is only thanks to Giggs and some fine keepers competition debutant Anders Lindegaard the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson to rest a string of players do return.
In all Ferguson made eight changes to the side which beat Bolton 5-0 on Saturday in a nod to the visit of Chelsea on Sunday.
Giggs, 37, sent a rocket into the top corner three minutes before the break to cancel Oscar Cardozo starter for Benfica 24 minutes that seemed destined to break their opponents in the early season momentum.
In Lisbon, the iconic Estádio da Luz, a shadow of the United side that reached the top of the Premier League with 18 goals in their first four matches.
It is only thanks to Giggs and some fine keepers competition debutant Anders Lindegaard the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson to rest a string of players do return.
In all Ferguson made eight changes to the side which beat Bolton 5-0 on Saturday in a nod to the visit of Chelsea on Sunday.
Patrice Evra, Jonny Evans and Wayne Rooney were the only ones who hold the positions.
Aware, perhaps, pedigree Kingdom, Benfica initially to accept the substance of the initiative, but the uncertainty in the "game helped the men Jorge Jesus said visitors.
Cardozo recorded the first shot on goal from Benfica with a little effort, which claimed Lindegaard comfortably, but Paraguay was less lenient in the 24th minutes.
Collection of a high pass from Nicolas Gaitan enterprising on his chest, he turned to Evans skillfully cut a good finish inside the right post Lindegaard.
It was the first goal United had conceded after the contest from their quarterfinal loss to Bayern Munich in the tournament 2009-10.
U.S. only effort was a note described in a tight corner, Antonio Valencia, flashed over the crossbar, but Giggs is nothing new to the years of producing great equalizer that silenced the home fans.
After collecting possession on the right side of the pocket space aboard the Welsh spies of the box, crashed a fine of arrowing first drive in the top right.
Giggs goal "of the first shot on goal for United, broke its own record for the top scorer of the tournament old order and the means he has now scored more Champions League campaigns-16-than any other player in the history.
His intervention was not hide the problems of the United States, however, continued to look dangerous and Benfica in the second half.
Pablo Aimar fizzed a low effort just wide, while Giggs was brought back up after Artur squirming in the region, Lindegaard then produced a brilliant stop palm after a lateral foot Nolito substitute.
When Emerson left the Advanced back-fingers, and hit the target, Ferguson decided that he had seen enough and sent on Nani and Darren Fletcher replaced by Javier Hernandez and Valencia.
There was no containment of the red tide and after Benfica and Lindegaard had rejected a curling Gaitan, Phil Jones was sent to add muscle to break apart the defense.
At the end of let-off for United saw Nolito found the side netting for about three minutes and Ferguson finally appreciate the editing team most difficult group stage did not prove more costly.
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