Well, it may come as no surprise that we won again last night. Benfica tried to make a game of it and kept us at bay for long periods of time but eventually the win was confirmed towards the end of the night when Blind converted a penalty with about twelve minutes to go.
That means we have now won all four of our Champions League games and are virtually through to the knockout stages, but it’s not 100% confirmed as yet as we just need one point for the last two games.
“We have not qualified yet? Four victories and it is still not enough? We must get that point from the two remaining matches,” said Jose.
Young Benfica keeper Svilar had another strange game against us after his unfortunate gaff with Rashford’s free kick in their home game. This time though he started the game well by saving a penalty from Anthony Martial. Having been brought down himself, Frenchman Martial stepped up from the spot but Mile Svilar guessed the right way and saved it. With his confidence up, he then went on to save twice from out of goal-scoring form Romelu Lukaku.
With half-time approaching it looked like we’d go in at 0-0, however just before I went down to the concourse to get my brew. Matic picked up the ball from a good distance out and moved the ball onto his left foot and smashed the ball hard and low. I could see it bending wide of Svilar and looked to be going wide but it hit the post and with the spin on the ball went into the back of the net. Or so I thought… It wasn’t until about ten minutes later that someone told me it actually hit the post and came out but then it hit the back of the unfortunate Svilar and rolled into the net.
My young lad was with me for this game too and although he’s probably been to about 15 United matches, including two Wembley trips. He’d never been to a Champions League game so was pleased to see that goal go in and even more chuffed when he got to see Daley Blind convert his penalty to get the win towards the end. It nearly wasn’t Blind’s penalty though. Rashford got fouled this time and with Martial already off the pitch Lukaku went and picked the ball up so he could take it. Herrera then convinced Romelu that he was best placed to take it but then eventually Blind (under Mourinho’s instructions) came over and took it off him.
That’s three straight wins then in three different competitions since our awful performance against Huddersfield in the Premier League. We’ve beaten Swansea away in the League Cup, Spurs at home in the league thanks to Martial’s late winner and now this win the Champions League. Up next, Chelsea away in the league where we have a truly awful record but surely we can finally get a win there as it’s been way too long. It would be good to go into the International Break on a high.
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