Manchester United consolidated their position at the top of Group A in the UEFA Champions League as they Benfica 1-0 at Estadio Da Luz on Wednesday.
Manchester United had to slog it out to continue their perfect run in the UEFA Champions League as a resolute and uncompromising Benfica side gave them a run for their money in Lisbon. The hosts’ resolve was finally broken just after the hour mark in a rather bizarre fashion, though.
Marcus Rashford struck a powerful free-kick from 35 yards out wide and as Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar grabbed the ball, his backward momentum carried him past the goal line, with the ball still in his hands. The visitors took all three points though and Twitter was abuzz with words of praise for Rashford.
RASHFORD HE HAD A FAMILY ?
pic.twitter.com/AMoPeRPPxs— Paul Pogba (@Pogbaology) October 18, 2017
Marcus Rashford this season:
? Games: 12
⚽ Goals: 6
? Assists: 4Star. ⭐ pic.twitter.com/MVA8PMAfCR
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) October 18, 2017
Marcus Rashford’s goal. ?
Brilliant awareness ?? pic.twitter.com/LgdlZxFNrX
— Man Utd Channel (@ManUtdChannel) October 18, 2017
Marcus Rashford with the best goal you will ever see. Unbelievable.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) October 18, 2017
Rashford: 1st Champions League start ⚽️,
Europa League start ⚽️⚽️,
Premier League start ⚽️⚽️,
Manchester derby ⚽️,
International ⚽️— Busby MUFC (@SirMatthewBusby) October 18, 2017
Marcus Rashford is a genius.
— Sam Homewood (@SamHomewood) October 18, 2017
MARCUS RASHFORD I LOVE YOU
— José (@MourinhoMindset) October 18, 2017
But, fans also expressed their concerns towards the teenager after he limped off shortly after scoring the winner.
The joy of Martial coming on taken away by it being for a Rashford injury. #MUFC #MatchdayMac #CL
— Full Time DEVILS (@FullTimeDEVILS) October 18, 2017
Our injury luck is a joke. Rashford will be a huge loss if he’s out for any amount of time
— Michael Barton (@mrmichaelbarton) October 18, 2017
Rashford injury hopefully isn’t too serious, wish he was brought off earlier, right after scoring. We lost pogba in a similar fashion at the
— Labile (@Juanderooney) October 18, 2017
Mkhi played on Saturday though? And if you’re talking about Rashford, great bit of rotation there. Rushing him back from injury and aggravating it, excellent nights work
— Aby (@__Abyyy__) October 18, 2017
Hope Rashford’s injury is not serious, we can’t afford another injury as we’re already short on attacking options. #MUFC
— Athul (@athulpkrishnan) October 18, 2017
Manchester United fans also expressed their frustration over Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s slump in form, with the Armenian producing a slew of underwhelming performances.
Bad to worse for Mkhi tonight…..How long before Jose realises it’s killing our momentum. HAS to get Mata central and bring Lingard on
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) October 18, 2017
I’ve always stuck by Mkhi but it’s getting more and more difficult with each game
— ً (@ffsJoshua) October 18, 2017
Mkhi is so bad it’s actually starting to become funny. He really needs a stint out the team and a word with himself cause it’s mad now
— Kumbaya Shit (@MrScripto) October 18, 2017
Right now Mkhi is creating a rotation between Martial and Rashford and it’s him who shouldn’t play
— FIGHT4MUFC (@mufc4thefans) October 18, 2017
Mkhi proving stats mean nothing as he drops another 1/10
— . (@jewmed) October 18, 2017
Um, Mkhi is so not fine. The assists masked iffy form in the first month of the season and now they’ve dried up… brutal
— Nick (@ManUnitedYouth) October 18, 2017
But, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic were hailed for their performances on the night against their former side.
Matic running through Benfica’s defence like he’s had enough of everyone else being rubbish and decided to do it himself.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) October 18, 2017
Positive: A solid performance from Lindelof tonight. It’s almost as if Mourinho knows what he’s doing more than FIFA obsessed teenagers do.
— Sibs (@SibsMUFC) October 18, 2017
Very impressed with Lindelof. Jose is managing him perfectly and building his confidence. Reminds us of how Sir Alex eased in Vidic#MUFC
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) October 18, 2017
Victor Lindelof was very solid today!#MUFC pic.twitter.com/NorugheWkq
— AhsanMUFC_ (@MufcAhsan) October 18, 2017
A lifeless performance from Manchester United, but at least Nemanja Matić tried. Best player on the pitch by some distance. Very classy.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) October 18, 2017
Manchester United players were also praised for their touch of sportsmanship at full-time as they consoled young goalkeeper Svilar.
Fantastic to see the @ManUtd players supporting the young Benfica goalkeeper Svilar after the game pic.twitter.com/ozkNoSEe0y
— Hala Madrid (@ajformanite) October 19, 2017
Lukaku consoling Mile Svilar following his mistake is probably the best thing you’ll see all day.
Great sportsmanship ???? pic.twitter.com/DjMJCgn9Xv
— Footy Jokes Videos (@Footy_Jokes02) October 19, 2017
David de Gea offers words of encourangement to young Benfica goalkeeper Svilar. #mufc pic.twitter.com/qZHGVhV2h9
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) October 18, 2017