MANCHESTER UNITED CLOSED to the brink of the Champions League knockout phase after more inadvertent generosity from Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar helped them to a 2-0 victory.
Having carried a Marcus Rashford free-kick into his own net to gift United victory in the reverse fixture, 18-year-old Svilar scored an unwitting own goal when Nemanja Matic’s shot hit the post and went in off his back.
Daley Blind’s 78th-minute penalty completed victory, but with CSKA Moscow beating Basel in the other Group A game, United were left needing one point from their final two games to be certain of a last 16 berth.
Rui Vitoria’s Benfica remain bottom of the group with no points after their fifth successive European defeat — the worst run in the club’s history — and can no longer qualify for the knockout rounds.
Belgian youth international Svilar for one will be glad to see the back of United, particularly after he appeared to have atoned for his blunder in Lisbon two weeks ago by saving an early penalty from Anthony Martial.
With four wins from four games, United are six points clear at the top of the group and only a minor miracle will prevent them from reaching the knockout rounds for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Jose Mourinho’s side visit Basel on November 22 before closing their campaign at home to CSKA next month.
Rewarded with a starting berth for his match-winning cameo in United’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Martial won but then squandered a 15th-minute penalty.
In attempting to curb the Frenchman’s driving run into the box from the United left, Douglas lost his footing and handled the ball.
Martial took the penalty himself, steering it towards the bottom-left corner, but Svilar got down to turn the ball around the post.
Benfica had been denied a penalty shortly before United’s spot-kick was awarded when Eric Bailly stepped across Pizzi and the hosts also had an appeal turned down following a challenge on Juan Mata by Ljubomir Fejsa.
It took a spectacular one-handed save from David de Gea to prevent Diogo Goncalves putting Benfica ahead with a swerving 25-yard effort.
Svilar denied United again on the half-hour, pushing Romelu Lukaku’s low strike behind, but fortune would desert the teenager once again on the brink of half-time.
From Lukaku’s lay-off, Matic let fly from 30 yards with a powerful drive that struck the base of the right-hand post and ricocheted against the prone Svilar’s left arm before bouncing into the net.
Svilar, who rushed out to thwart Lukaku moments later, wore an understandably rueful expression as he left the pitch at the break.
Jesse Lingard gave way for United at half-time after being unable to run off a blow to the side, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan taking his place behind Lukaku.
The Armenian was unable to add much zip to the home side’s play, however, and Benfica threatened to equalise on several occasions.
De Gea’s fingertips stopped Goncalves from levelling with an angled effort and the Spain international was grateful to his post for baling him out in the 65th minute after Bailly’s sloppy pass gave Raul Jimenez a clear sight of goal.
Blind soothed Old Trafford’s nerves with 12 minutes remaining by drilling a penalty down the middle of the goal after Andreas Samaris was penalised for felling United substitute Rashford.
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Christ, 3 articles in 24 hours.
We get it.
1)Class player who’s critical to Munster and a great player for Ireland when selected.
2)Offered bigger money overseas which the irfu just can’t match.
3)Good but not good enough to pick for Ireland if he goes abroad. (Only applies to Murray, sexton, and probably furlong)
4) it’s heaslip’s and the Kearney brothers’ fault.
Come back when you some real updates.
@sup: total overkill
I started reading the 42.ie mainly because of the detailed and clever rugby analysis articles that they had. Having never played rugby but yet being an avid fan it was very interested to read the depth and knowledge of some reporters on the skills and tactics of the game.
There seems to be no analysis on the 42.ie just cheap click bait articles on common topics repeated and rehashed.
Please bring back the in depth analysis and not this player agent pushed drivel.
@William O’Gorman: Murray Kinsella was the one doing the brilliant analysis but he’s taken a sabbatical since the lions tour. Hopefully he’ll be back before the 6 nations!
@sup: Murray was probably the best analyst going, hope he is back soon, without him the 42 has just gone for the mundane.
@William O’Gorman: well said William.
I can’t understand why the defence to this situation is the irfu can’t compete with England and France , I don’t see the relevance , the news is the irfu offer is not acceptable for omahony , it’s rumoured to be 350k for both his contracts , Luke fitz was on more when he retired for a context example,
Omahony is the exact person that would happily stay at Munster but also seems a proud fella that wouldn’t stand for disparity within the international set up, if he’s on less than a lot of his Irish teammates past and present and he is shouldering the responsibility of the real embodiment of Munster then he should hold out. He hasn’t once referred to being interested in moving just that there are offers if he needs them. It’s a matter of fix our ship before blaming the bigger ship next to us
Years ago when I coached at under age level the difference between a vocal/aggressive captain in the changing rooms and a not so vocal one was amazing. The entire team used to get so pumped up and it used to make a massive difference to have a captain able to psyche up his team. I was in the crowd once and within ear shot at an SCT game where Shane Jennings was the captain and before kickoff I heard him talk to his players and he was phenomenal at it. POC had it and POM has it. The “don’t fcuk with us” mad man look on his face. You can’t teach that and it’s a very important trait to have in your leader.
@Gary: they certainly do have it ! But Shane Jennings went to Leicester for two years as did Leo … SOB , Murray , Sexton , POC , all leaders , Donnacha Ryan , too . When Ireland lost to Argentina in 2015 it was because of the lack of leaders on the pitch , POM was gone , OBrien was gone , Sexton gone , POC gone … but now there are plenty more and by 2019 Furlong , Hendo, Henshaw will be strong leaders so POM will hopefully stay home , get a good deal and be on board . If he doesn’t well I wish him every success
If he or Stander go all the Munster fans will be up in Dublin with their pitchforks and torches
@Peter Brophy: let them ! Look at Jordi Murphy , he’s moving to Ulster , so there’s even more competition for backrow playing all the big weekends . O’Mahony deserves a nice raise but Ireland still got great results before he got back from injury . So either a compromise is reached or good luck and all the best . There is no way JS will pick a backrow player playing overseas between now and May 2019 . After that he may decide that he needs these players for Japan no matter where they’re playing , but not before .
@Limón Madrugada: we need pom for the world cup in my opinion
@Finbarr O Donovan: we need every quality player available but backrow is stocked . We don’t know who’ll get injured , who’ll be a bolter . I would love to have POM in the squad every time . But if you give him special status overseas he won’t get the rest and ‘protection’ required . And you’re sending a signal ( of the wrong kind) to four or five more ‘key’ players .
With Marty Moore coming back , Jordi Murphy going north there are signs that there are players who are showing their commitment to the IRFU . These guys will have a slight priority in order to show how swapping provinces is the way forward and going outside the provinces is not.
@Limón Madrugada: when did Ulster sign jordi Murphy.?
@Limón Madrugada: never heard that Murphy was off to Ulster. Is this confirmed or just talk?
@David OfBrien: thornley seems pretty certain of it in his IT article thismorning
@Finbarr O Donovan: why? Ireland performed just as well without him. There are 2, maybe 3, indispensable players for Ireland – Murray, Sexton and maybe Furlong (our increasing depth at TH means we could lose him without dire consequences). Every single other player can be replaced with an option just as good. If every single player is fit, does POM make the Joe Schmidt XV? No. Does he make the bench? Maybe.
@grandslamkbo: He definitely starts if he’s fit! Key to the Irish setup. Nonsense to think Ireland could let either him or stander leave and we have an old heaslip sitting on a contract who wouldn’t even make the team in 2019 if all were fit.
@Limón Madrugada: Trying to compare POM leaving to jordi Murphy is madness. He couldn’t start for leinster and needed to move!
I’m delighted he has chosen to go up north but that is only an option for players who need game time or want to move up in standard.
@Peter Brophy: never heard about jordi murphy leaving, is it just a rumour or is there an announcement I missed?
@Andrew Gleeson: I’m not comparing Murphy directly to POM , I’m demonstrating that Murphy and others are showing a commitment to the Irish team and make no mistake this will be taken into account when it comes to split decisions . But while we’re on the subject Murphy was on the team that beat NZ , POM was still injured . Ireland manage to get excellent results with and without POM .
Ireland will be stronger with POM involved but have learned to get great results even without key players . Same goes if SOB left or Cian Healy or Stander even . Murray and Sexton ( especially with PJ still in limbo) are the only untouchables right now for me . With a bit of luck Luke McGrath , Marmion , Carberry , Bleyendal etc can reduce the gap .
@Andrew Gleeson: You think he plays if fit. I asked if he plays in a Schmidt team. You’re not Joe Schmidt. Schmidt doesn’t often play POM when he’s fit. That’s the point.
If IRFU can only afford to keep one of POM or CJ on the contracts they’d command id be interested to know who Munster supporters would prefer
@Paul K Murphy: there’s no way the IRFU can continue to pay the players a wage that will see them all stay.
The gap between what’s on offer in Ireland & abroad is widening. We all accept the IRFU cannot & should not compete.
Players of this profile will be leaving in the next year or two.
@Paul K Murphy: we have Marty Moore coming back and Jordi Murphy heading north. If one or both of POM or CJ goes, Munster have a massive problem. They’re both in an area where Ireland are strong. Not sure this constitutes a wave leaving (except from Munster). On another point, for any player who had dreams of leaving or maybe was disgruntled with life in Ireland, this is the most opportune time to do so. Especially if you’re not playing for Leinster. Just say you haven’t bee offered what you want and them watch the fury unleashed on the Union.
@Gustave H: The Pro 14 needs to generate more money. The SA teams joining has helped. If the move for a US team brings in the big money I’m all for it. Always said I dislike conferences and the travel but if its what is needed to prevent the provinces becoming feeder teams I’m all for it.
@Paul K Murphy: There is limited money. POM should be given a good offer but Ireland have to recognise that despite him being a big player, it’s a position we are strong in (even if, as i’ve already said, he’s our number one 6, with Heaslip out). The gap to the next guy is not that big. The IRFU money has to be prioritised – Furlong for example should be much more of a priority. In any case, POM is a homebird and won’t move unless his offer is insulting, which it won’t be. The IRFU need to realise these two points and budget accordingly. Ringrose for example isn’t even getting a national contract, as far as I know.
@Paul K Murphy: Rationale is players are already thinking about jumping post WC in 2019 for $$$$$. They want the best of both worlds – IRFU dead right to sign up as many to 2020 or beyond as possible.