Relief for Fergie as Ruud scores winner
Manchester United 2 Benfica 1
Ruud van Nistelrooy rode to Alex Ferguson’s rescue tonight with a dramatic late winner to ease the pressure on Manchester United’s beleaguered manager.
Ferguson was spared any more abuse from his own supporters but as he stood helplessly in the dug-out, it appeared a precious victory in the 1968 European Cup re-match would elude him too until Van Nistelrooy arrived to bundle home Ryan Giggs’ corner six minutes from time.
The goal was the Dutchman’s 47th in the European Cup, taking him into third ahead of Eusebio on the all-time list. But the statistics will mean nothing as Ferguson exhales a mighty sigh of relief.
Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez and even Arsene Wenger may have offered support in the past few dark days. But Ferguson knows he is in a results business – and finally he has got one.
Rarely in recent times can Ferguson have approached a European tie on home soil with such a sense of trepidation.
Booed by his own supporters on Saturday, the Scot’s efforts at healing the rift by refusing to talk about it yesterday had been blown out of the water by the statement flying out of Portugal from his trusty assistant Carlos Queiroz which implied the fans calling for a return to the famed 4-4-2 formation were ‘stupid’.
If that was not bad enough, Ferguson was without yet another senior defender in Mikael Silvestre.
It meant the full-backs in his starting line-up boasted just 13 senior starts between them, and Kieran Richardson was responsible for 12 of those, Phil Bardsley the other.
With a bench whose most experienced member was the ineffective Liam Miller, it was no wonder United started nervously and once again, they had Edwin van der Sar to thank for keeping them on level terms.
Since he emulated the 1968 side by conquering Europe six years ago, it cannot be claimed Ferguson has enjoyed unqualified success in the transfer market.
Thankfully for the United boss, for every Diego Forlan there has been a Van Nistelrooy and for Massimo Taibi, he now has Van der Sar.
With each game, the giant Dutchman is becoming a more influential figure in the Red Devils camp and, after John O’Shea had inexplicably failed to control a Miguel Nuno Gomes pass, Van der Sar superbly turned away Fabrizio Miccoli’s goalbound effort.
The corner only brought another scare, Anderson Luisao rising to power a header downwards which Van der Sar again clawed away.
United’s response was a flash of genius from Van Nistelrooy, who took down Bardsley’s cross with one touch, then smashed a volley against the bar with his second.
It was one of the most significant contributions of a very encouraging display from Bardsley, Ferguson’s other rookie full-back.
Although the home fans managed a well received rendition of ’stand up if you love Fergie’, it was not until Giggs had put them in front did Old Trafford bounce to the noise usually associated with a famous European night.
Rumour has it Giggs had a furious argument with Queiroz in the wake of the Blackburn debacle. Whether that story is true or not, there is no doubt the long-serving Welshman has been used sparingly this term.
This was only his second start, but he stroked a free-kick into the net, albeit with the aid of a noticeable deflection off Benfica’s wall.
It seemed like the catalyst for a much-needed home win, especially when Cristiano Ronaldo started to terrorise his fellow countryman.
But, without suspended striker Wayne Rooney, United’s attack consistently broke down and Benfica, who like Blackburn before them had come to Old Trafford to win, snatched a deserved equaliser.
Again it was a free-kick, conceded by a reckless tackle from Alan Smith, who received a booking for his trouble. But where there had been an element of good fortune over Giggs’ effort, there was none as Sabrosa Simao stroked a shot into the top corner which was too good even for Van der Sar.
A pulsating last half hour offered both sides hope of victory, with Ronaldo’s shot smashing into the post and Van der Sar producing another fine stop to deny Bastos Leo.
Ultimately though, it was Van Nistelrooy who got it, his 38th goal in 43 European appearances since his arrival from PSV Eindhoven. Few have been better received.
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