Stuart James at Old Trafford 

Manchester United’s future in doubt after Benfica snatch worthy point

Benfica came from 2-1 down to snatch a worthy point at Old Trafford and throw Manchester United's future into doubt
  
  

pablo aimar
Benfica's Pablo Aimar, centre, is mobbed as he enjoys his equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Manchester United. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

Manchester United's stuttering Champions League campaign has delivered another unwelcome result as a Benfica side full of adventure and attacking verve secured the point that leaves Sir Alex Ferguson's team requiring a draw in Basel in two weeks' time to be sure of qualification for the knock-out stages. That result should not be beyond United, but Pablo Aimar's second-half equaliser means Benfica will be guaranteed top spot in Group C if they can defeat Otelul Galati, irrespective of the outcome in Switzerland.

It is exactly the scenario Ferguson hoped to avoid and raises the prospect of United coming up against a team of the calibre of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Internazionale in the next round. The United manager will be scratching his head at the way his players have conspired to turn what felt like a relatively comfortable group when the draw was made into what Ferguson described as "a bumpy ride" in his programme notes.

This absorbing contest was a continuation of what had gone before as United's careless defending resurfaced on a night of high drama. An unfortunate own goal from Phil Jones set the tone, and although Dimitar Berbatov's first Champions League goal in more than three years and a close-range effort from Darren Fletcher put United ahead, Benfica picked up the result that means they are sure of a place in the knock-out stages when the effervescent Aimar punished a David de Gea mistake.

The Spaniard should have put his foot through the ball when it was passed back to him by Jones but he seemed to be caught in two minds, and his kick succeeded only in finding Bruno César on the edge of the area. He promptly swept a left-foot centre across the six-yard box and the ball bounced off Rio Ferdinand and dropped for Aimar to thrash it home.

United will now travel to Basel knowing that defeat will eliminate them from the Champions League and that a win will probably do no more than secure second place. "It makes it a bit harder, of course, but if you look at it in a different way, maybe the bigger game would suit us anyway," Ferguson said. "Hopefully, we are in the [second place] situation, because I don't think Benfica will lose. I am sure they will win that match.

"The opportunities to play Inter, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich – you have to judge that this way: if you played them in the semi-final or the final, you would be only too delighted, knowing the possibility is to win the trophy. The clubs we will face will know that, too."

United will have Nemanja Vidic back from suspension for the game in Basel, but Michael Carrick will be serving a one-match suspension after picking up a booking last night. United should, on paper, be much too strong for the Swiss side, although it would be dangerous for Ferguson's players to take anything for granted after the 3-3 draw at Old Trafford in September. "It is going to be a hard game and the chips are down for us, but I have every confidence in my team," Ferguson said.

This had the makings of a tricky evening for United, even before they got off to that start. Benfica arrived on the back of 20-match undefeated run, and the Portuguese side's hopes of extending that record would have been strengthened by the sight of a United team-sheet that excluded Wayne Rooney. Ferguson suggested beforehand that Rooney would be fit but the England international failed to recover from the hip injury he suffered at Swansea City on Saturday.

If that news was disconcerting for United, it was nothing compared to the anxiety that swept around Old Trafford when Jones stuck out a leg and put Nicolás Gaitán's cross through his own net inside four minutes. Slowly but surely United started to find their rhythm, and they equalised when Berbatov glanced home Nani's cross to register his first goal in 1,262 minutes of Champions League football.

"Berbatov has always been involved," Ferguson said. "He has not had the starts that he wishes he had and that is all to do with the partnerships we have had this season. But he has done very well tonight and could have had hat-trick."

Ashley Young ought to have put United in front when he shot straight at Artur, but at the other end Benfica continued to carry a threat on the counter-attack, and De Gea had to be at full-stretch to deny Aimar.

The lead United coveted arrived when Fletcher ran on to Patrice's Evra's fine cross and turned the ball in at the second attempt. Yet the home supporters' joy lasted only 80 seconds, De Gea's blunder allowing Aimar to profit. "David should have played it into the terracing but he is confident on the ball and he expresses himself always in that way, so I am not blaming him in any way," said Ferguson, who might still have been celebrating three points had Berbatov not volleyed Fabio da Silva's cross over.

 

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