Manchester United through to round of 16 as they beat Benfica 2-0

Manchester United all but secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Benfica on Tuesday.


An unfortunate own goal from young goalkeeper Mile Svilar at the end of the first half and a Daley Blind penalty after the break gave Jose Mourinho's side their fourth win from four games in Group A and put them on the brink of the knockout phase.

Svilar gifted United a win in Lisbon two weeks ago when he carried Marcus Rashford's free-kick over the line but he seemed ready to make amends at Old Trafford when he saved Anthony Martial's 15th-minute penalty.

The home side, who gave Scott McTominay a first start in the competition as the likes of Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Rashford were rested from the start, were not wholly convincing in their display against a team without a point from four matches.

But they found a breakthrough when Nemanja Matic's shot hit the post and went in off Svilar before having to survive some Benfica pressure in the second half, in which Raul Jimenez hit the post following an Eric Bailly mistake.

Svilar saved well at the feet of Lukaku and McTominay was denied by a good block, but Rashford produced the telling impact off the bench when his outstanding run into the box was halted by Andreas Samaris' crude block. Lukaku looked poised to take the penalty before responsibilities were strangely handed over to Blind, who blasted down the middle of the goal to seal the victory.

Svilar made good saves to deny Romelu Lukaku and keep his side in the contest but it proved to be in vain, as Blind fired home from the spot with 13 minutes left to put United six points clear of Basel and CSKA Moscow at the top of the group with two games left.