Benfica, United Share Points

Benfica 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Benfica: Cardozo (24)
Manchester United: Giggs (42)


Team: Lindegaad, Evans, Smalling, Evra, Fabio (Jones 78), Carrick, Fletcher (Hernandez 70), Park, Giggs, Valencia (Nani 70), Rooney

 Putrid display in midfield. Ferguson gave the old timers a run here and after the free-flowing football we've witnessed in the last month grinded to to a halt. There was precious little movement in the centre of the park. Carrick and Fletcher were non-entities. They moved like their feet were cast in cement.

With 7 changes to the one that played against Bolton, we certainly looked like strangers on the pitch. Rooney was starved of any supply and he had to constantly track back to get a touch of the ball, of course when he did that, there was no one up front when he did get the ball.

The only players who ran their socks off from the starting eleven were possibly Evra and Park down the left flank. Fabio and Valencia tried to put in a good shift but the quality was poor and eventually both were taken out before the 90.

Benfica's goal came from a superb goal from Cardozo. He spun beautifully around Evans and whipped a wonderful shot across Lindegaard and into the net. Our reply was a little against the run of play. We created little in the first half and were perhaps fortunate to draw level when Giggs was allowed to dance his way thru the Benfica midfield to lash home the equalizer.

The second half performance was much better from our point of view. We begun to string a couple of passes together but it wasn't enough to take the 3 points. Benfica, too, had their chances but Lindegaard is pressing hard for the no.1 spot. He made a couple of outstanding saves to save our blushes.

The game ended all square and probably the right result despite our putrid first half. Thankfully our group looks really weak with Basel and Otelul as our next oppoents, both of which we should deal with, barring an Inter-like collapse.

With our top players rested, I'm optimistic we should deal with Chelsea's slow legs in defense this weekend.