Offside News

Sports

Vintage Giggs rescues sub-par United

Comment: 0 September 15th, 2011 by: admin

MANCHESTER United nearly paid early for their below-par performance and should thank old reliable Ryan Giggs for saving their day.

Giggs, who will turn 38 on Nov. 29, scored a superb goal three minutes before halftime as United salvaged a 1-1 tie with Benfica on Wednesday in their Champions League Group C opener at Estadio da Luz.

The Portuguese went ahead with an Oscar Cardozo brace in the 24^th minute before Giggs and some fine goalkeeping from competition debutant Anders Lindegaard prevented the Red Devils from suffering a humiliating loss.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men played nowhere near their sizzling form that scored 18 goals in their first four games that enabled them to shoot ahead at the top of the Premier League.

And Ferguson’s ploy to make eight changes to his side who drubbed Bolton 5-0 last Saturday nearly backfired as he looked ahead at their vital fixture against Chelsea on Sunday. Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Johnny Evans were the only ones who kept their places against Benfica.

In other matches, Turkish side Trabzonspor shocked 2010 champions Inter Milan 1-0; Napoli held Manchester City to a 1-1 tie; Bayern Munich dumped Villarreal 2-0; Real Madrid whipped Dinamo Zagreb 1-0; Lille OSC drew against CSKA Moscow 2-2; FC Basel subdued Otelul Galati 2-1; and Ajax fought Olympique Lyon to a scoreless standoff.

Giggs’ goal which came off the Red Devils’ first shot on target, enabled him to shatter his own record for the tournament’s oldest goalscorer. He has now scored in more Champions League campaigns – 16 –than any player in history.

While Ferguson relied on more seasoned players as last season’s beaten finalists launched their bid a for a fourth European title, he also gave Lindegaard, taking over from David de Gea, the chance to make his debut, while allowing Darren Fletcher and Antonio Valencia their first starts of the season.

With Rooney unable to make an impact, the Red Devils found the equaliser just before the interval. Antonio Valencia found Giggs on the edge of the box and the wily veteran fired a rasping shot past Artur.

In another impressive display, Giggs nearly converted a second goal in the 64^th minute as he danced past three defenders to fire from near the penalty box but Artur tipped the ball away for a corner.

“This is why Giggs is such a legend, why he has been one of United’s best players for so many years,’’ said Evra, United’s captain, in praise of Giggs.

Ferguson said he was happy enough getting a point. “All in all, it was a good European night, good to watch. I thought the two goals were terrific.

More