Division Two League Match, Benfica vs. Manchester Utd (Mon Dec 17)


                              Benfica  |  Manchester Utd
                          3-1-3-1-2 E  |  3-1-3-1-2 C
                      Steven Theobald  |  Derek Purvis
                                       |
                      E_Thorstvedt GK  |  GK P_Robinson
                         R_Neilson DF  |  DF Sergio_Ramos
                         M_Laursen DF  |  DF P_Leonard
                        M_Lindberg DF  |  DF J_O_Shea
                       Yann_M_Vila DM  |  DM J_Hunter
                            G_Hagi MF  |  MF J_Jenas
                          B_Zamora MF  |  MF J_Quigg
                         P_Do_Shaw MF  |  MF J_Forrest
                         R_Castias AM  |  AM Y_Hussein
                        K_McInally FW  |  FW Z_Ibrahimovic
                         S_Morison FW  |  FW H_Larsson
                                       |
                          J_Moreau SUB |  SUB W_Zenga
                     Fernando_Mera SUB |  SUB C_Puyol
                       B_Abdoulaye SUB |  SUB Z_Zidane
                          Di_Maria SUB |  SUB G_Hooper
                       Y_Yiannicis SUB |  SUB M_Klosenbeger

Referee: G_Poll (England)


Min. 1  :(mnu) Y_Hussein comes to collect the ball
          ...  Great turn!!!
          ...  Superb play
          ...  Y_Hussein pounds a rocket on goal !
          ...  It's going over!
          ...  It dips dramatically!!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  Manchester Utd go ahead in this match now!
          ...  Benfica 0-1 Manchester Utd ...
Min. 2  :(bfa) B_Zamora plays it to his team mate for a one-two
          ...  K_McInally keeps possession instead!
          ...  He runs towards the goal now!
          ...  A glorious effort by K_McInally !
          ...  P_Robinson makes himself big
          ...  Superb Stop !
          ...  Well that one would have delighted him
Min. 5  :(mnu) J_O_Shea headbutts P_Do_Shaw!
          ...  RED CARD!!
          ...  He's off!!
Min. 8  :(bfa) K_McInally jumps over Sergio_Ramos's challenge
          ...  Oh, beautiful nutmeg
          ...  He's clean through
          ...  K_McInally has a dig at goal!
          ...  The net bulges!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  That's got Benfica back level!
          ...  Benfica 1-1 Manchester Utd ...
Min. 9  :(bfa) B_Zamora changes direction inside
          ...  He sees a team mate making a run
          ...  He plays the ball through to G_Hagi
          ...  G_Hagi launches himself head first to connect with the low cross!
          ...  But it goes just over
Min. 9  :(mnu) J_Forrest looks for options
          ...  He decides to go it alone
          ...  Excellent sliding challenge by Yann_M_Vila
          ...  He timed it well
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  J_Jenas chips the ball into the area!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt easily catches it!
Min. 10 :(bfa) G_Hagi is taking a throw in
          ...  He dries the ball on his shirt
          ...  He throws the ball to K_McInally
          ...  K_McInally with the header !
          ...  It flies wide!
          ...  He should have hit the target at least!!
Min. 11 :(bfa) M_Laursen with a glorious 60-yard pass to G_Hagi
          ...  Y_Hussein with a perfectly timed tackle
Min. 12 :(bfa) B_Zamora hits a hard pass to S_Morison
          ...  What a shot from S_Morison !
          ...  It could go anywhere
          ...  But he's put it wide
          ...  How did he manage to miss that one?!?!?
Min. 14 :(mnu) H_Larsson loses his marker
          ...  H_Larsson with a powerful header !
          ...  He has put it over the bar!
          ...  He looks stunned by that miss!
          ...  He puts his face in his hands!
Min. 15 :(bfa) M_Laursen pushes it past the defender
          ...  M_Laursen with the diving header !
          ...  He had to be brave there
          ...  But he somehow misses
          ...  The Manchester Utd fans laugh at him
Min. 15 :(mnu) J_Jenas takes a throw in
          ...  He throws the ball into H_Larsson
          ...  H_Larsson with a thundering volley!
          ...  It grazes the post!
          ...  And hits the side netting
          ...  Goal Kick!
Min. 16 :(bfa) R_Neilson has it now
          ...  He takes on P_Leonard
          ...  He gets past him!
          ...  He puts in B_Zamora!
          ...  B_Zamora with the strike !
          ...  P_Robinson gets his fingertips to it
          ...  He pushes it on to the post
          ...  The defender clears the loose ball
Min. 17 :(bfa) B_Zamora has the ball on the wing
          ...  He knocks the ball past P_Leonard
          ...  He puts in S_Morison!
          ...  S_Morison gets his head to the ball !
          ...  It hits the post
          ...  And goes clear
Min. 21 :(bfa) M_Lindberg runs at goal
          ...  He spots the run of K_McInally
          ...  He's played him in
          ...  But Y_Hussein wins the ball
Min. 25 :(bfa) B_Zamora with a throw in
          ...  He throws the ball across to S_Morison
          ...  S_Morison has time and space!
          ...  He shoots towards goal!
          ...  P_Robinson was lucky there
Min. 26 :(mnu) Y_Hussein takes advantage of a defensive mistake
          ...  It's a lucky break
          ...  Y_Hussein lobs E_Thorstvedt!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt has to pick the ball out of the net
          ...  That's put Manchester Utd ahead!
          ...  Benfica 1-2 Manchester Utd ...
Min. 27 :(bfa) S_Morison steps over the ball
          ...  He nutmegs P_Leonard
          ...  That a lovely piece of trickery
          ...  S_Morison with a thundering shot!
          ...  P_Robinson won't get to that!
          ...  It clips the post!
          ...  And goes wide!
Min. 27 :(mnu) J_Quigg runs down the flank
          ...  He threads the ball in to J_Jenas
          ...  J_Jenas with a screamer of a shot !
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  In off the post
          ...  Benfica 1-3 Manchester Utd ...
Min. 31 :(bfa) G_Hagi takes possession
          ...  Knocks it past the defender
          ...  He's through on goal
          ...  G_Hagi hits the shot with the outside of the left foot!
          ...  The fans get off there seats!
          ...  But it sails over !!
Min. 32 :(mnu) J_Jenas looks around for some movement
          ...  He sees a man in space!
          ...  He hits the ball up to H_Larsson
          ...  R_Castias slides in hard!
          ...  And knocks the ball out for a throw!
Min. 33 :(mnu) E_Thorstvedt miss-kicks!
          ...  Z_Ibrahimovic is through!
          ...  P_Do_Shaw with a pull on the shirt
          ...  He is fortunate to be given just a warning
Min. 36 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw pass splits open the defence and finds K_McInally
          ...  Sergio_Ramos takes the ball and the player!!
          ...  But the ref waves play on!!
Min. 37 :(bfa) M_Laursen backtracks with the ball
          ...  He hoofs the ball up field
          ...  S_Morison gets on the end of it
          ...  The cross hits S_Morison on the butt and rebounds towards goal !
          ...  The fans behind the goal jump up!
          ...  But it's gone just wide !!
Min. 38 :(bfa) G_Hagi wins possession
          ...  He plays the ball across to K_McInally
          ...  K_McInally with a bomb of a shot !
          ...  It hits the side netting!
          ...  He looks horrified by that miss!
          ...  He puts his face in his hands!
Min. 40 :(bfa) S_Morison jumps over J_Quigg's challenge
          ...  Oh, beautiful nutmeg
          ...  He's clean through
          ...  A left-footer by S_Morison !
          ...  The fans get off there seats!
          ...  But it sails over !!
Min. 43 :(REF) The 4th referee signals that there is 1 minute of time to be added on

*************  HALF TIME  ****************
Half Time Score: Benfica 1-3 Manchester Utd

Min. 46 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw turns past the defender
          ...  He sees a team mate in space
          ...  He passes it to K_McInally
          ...  But P_Leonard slid in
          ...  It was a well timed tackle and it had to be
Min. 46 :(mnu) Z_Ibrahimovic brings it under control
          ...  He takes on R_Neilson
          ...  He gets past him!
          ...  He puts in Y_Hussein!
          ...  But he steps on the ball and falls over!
          ...  M_Laursen hits it out for a throw
Min. 49 :(bfa) B_Zamora with the deft touch
          ...  He takes it past P_Leonard
          ...  He knocks it to S_Morison!
          ...  The defender plays it back to P_Robinson
          ...  S_Morison intercepts the back pass!
          ...  He tries to dummy P_Robinson
          ...  He nutmegs P_Robinson
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  Benfica 2-3 Manchester Utd ...
Min. 50 :(bfa) B_Abdoulaye comes on for Yann_M_Vila and takes up a DM role
Min. 50 :(mnu) Up goes the substitution board - C_Puyol on for J_Hunter as a DF
Min. 51 :(bfa) The defender loses control of the ball!
          ...  K_McInally seizes control of it and thinks about the shot
          ...  K_McInally with a bicycle kick !
          ...  He couldn't have hit that shot much better!!
          ...  P_Robinson tips it wide !!
          ...  Great goalkeeping there!
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  G_Hagi lofts the ball in!
          ...  P_Do_Shaw makes a firm connection with his head
          ...  P_Robinson with a great save
          ...  He shows why he is the number 1
Min. 51 :(mnu) Y_Hussein with a probing through ball H_Larsson
          ...  B_Abdoulaye takes the player down!!
          ...  PENALTY!!
          ...  No! The ref has given the free kick the other way!
          ...  Unbelievable!
Min. 52 :(bfa) B_Zamora finds M_Laursen with a perfectly weighted pass
          ...  M_Laursen with the spectacular bicycle kick!
          ...  It flies wide!
          ...  He should have hit the target at least!!
Min. 54 :(bfa) G_Hagi with a smart pass to S_Morison
          ...  S_Morison with a powerful header !
          ...  But the ball goes harmlessly wide
Min. 55 :(mnu) Z_Zidane is being prepared to come on
          ...  J_Forrest is leaving the pitch
          ...  He applauds the crowd
          ...  Looks like his replacement will play MF
Min. 55 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw beats H_Larsson
          ...  A well-placed shot from P_Do_Shaw !
          ...  It's hit the bar
          ...  It bounces down
          ...  P_Robinson grabs it
          ...  No Goal!
          ...  Boo's surround the stadium!!!
Min. 56 :(mnu) Z_Zidane with a flashy move
          ...  M_Laursen reads the play well
Min. 57 :(bfa) M_Lindberg spits at J_Jenas
          ...  He is fortunate to be given just a warning
Min. 60 :(mnu) There's going to be a change
          ...  G_Hooper will come on for Y_Hussein and play FW
Min. 60 :(mnu) H_Larsson looks up for support for support
          ...  He spots his team mate making a run now
          ...  He plays it across to his team mate and runs forward now!
          ...  His team mate plays the through ball for him!
          ...  H_Larsson with a thundering shot!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt can't get to it!
          ...  OH! It drifts wide!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt has a smile on his face
          ...  Did he know that was going wide?
Min. 62 :(mnu) J_Jenas skips past a challenge and gets over a cross to Sergio_Ramos
          ...  Launched towards the top corner by Sergio_Ramos !
          ...  It hits the post!!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  Benfica 2-4 Manchester Utd ...
Min. 64 :(bfa) M_Laursen sprints down the flank
          ...  He plays the ball across to R_Castias
          ...  R_Castias with the 40 yard drive !
          ...  OOOOHHHHH!!!!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  What a great finish
          ...  The Benfica fans chant his name!
          ...  Benfica 3-4 Manchester Utd ...
Min. 68 :(bfa) B_Zamora with the dribble
          ...  He skips through the tackle from Sergio_Ramos
          ...  B_Zamora looks to see where P_Robinson is!
          ...  He shoots!
          ...  It floats over P_Robinson
          ...  Its heading goal ward!
          ...  But floats just over
          ...  That was a great effort
Min. 70 :(bfa) It looks as though Benfica is now playing A
Min. 71 :(bfa) Up goes the substitution board - Fernando_Mera on for R_Neilson as a DF
Min. 71 :(bfa) S_Morison slows the ball down and waits for support
          ...  He spots his team mate making a run now
          ...  He plays it across to his team mate and runs forward now!
          ...  His team mate plays the through ball for him!
          ...  Brilliantly taken away by P_Leonard !!
          ...  Any youngsters out there should be taking notes
Min. 73 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw knocks the ball past C_Puyol
          ...  P_Do_Shaw chases it through, he must score !
          ...  It hits the outside of the post
          ...  And goes out
Min. 74 :(bfa) G_Hagi with electric pace
          ...  He eases past H_Larsson
          ...  G_Hagi with a screamer of a shot !
          ...  P_Robinson just watches it drift out of play!
Min. 75 :(bfa) Y_Yiannicis replaces R_Castias to play as a FW
Min. 75 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw kills the ball dead
          ...  He sees a team mate in space!
          ...  He plays the ball in to him!
          ...  G_Hagi gets on the end of the pass
          ...  G_Hagi with a graceful, looping effort !
          ...  The shot slips through P_Robinson's hands
          ...  But goes wide!
          ...  He got away with that!
          ...  Goal kick given! That looked like a corner to me
Min. 76 :(mnu) G_Hooper beats Fernando_Mera
          ...  M_Laursen clears with a diving header
Min. 78 :(bfa) B_Zamora with the dribble
          ...  Sergio_Ramos is easily beaten
          ...  B_Zamora goes for goal !
          ...  It hits the bar!!
          ...  But he beats the defender to the rebound
          ...  OHHHHHHHH !!
          ...  P_Robinson pushes it behind !
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  B_Zamora hits it into the box!
          ...  P_Do_Shaw tries to place the shot!
          ...  P_Robinson saves, but he fumbles
          ...  It goes wide!
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  G_Hagi lofts the ball in!
          ...  M_Lindberg gets a shot in
          ...  What agility from P_Robinson
Min. 78 :(mnu) H_Larsson runs at the defence
          ...  He nutmegs the defender
          ...  He showed his class there
          ...  H_Larsson curls it towards the top corner !
          ...  It's gone over
          ...  Well he must have left his shooting boots at home for that one
Min. 80 :(bfa) B_Zamora finds Y_Yiannicis in the box
          ...  P_Leonard brings him down from behind!
          ...  But the ref gives nothing!
Min. 80 :(mnu) J_Quigg controls the ball with a deft piece of skill
          ...  He plays the ball into the middle!
          ...  H_Larsson gets onto the end of the pass!
          ...  M_Lindberg fouls badly
          ...  I don't think he meant anything other than trying to get the ball
Min. 82 :(bfa) B_Zamora knocks it past Sergio_Ramos and runs onto it
          ...  He showed great skill and pace there
          ...  B_Zamora attempts a chip!
          ...  It goes wide!
          ...  He should have hit the target at least!!
Min. 83 :(bfa) S_Morison wins possession
          ...  He plays the ball across to B_Zamora
          ...  B_Zamora fires off a left-footed shot !
          ...  P_Robinson blocks the shot with his legs
          ...  And he gathers it!
Min. 86 :(bfa) K_McInally steps over the ball
          ...  He nutmegs G_Hooper
          ...  That a lovely piece of trickery
          ...  K_McInally bears down on goal!
          ...  He couldn't have hit that shot much better!!
          ...  But it thumps off the woodwork !!
          ...  And goes safely clear!
          ...  P_Robinson never had a chance!
Min. 88 :(REF) The 4th referee signals that there is 1 minute of time to be added on
Min. 88 :(bfa) G_Hagi turns past P_Leonard
          ...  He has created space for himself now
          ...  G_Hagi attempts a low drive!
          ...  It hits the bar
          ...  And goes over!
          ...  P_Robinson was beaten there!

*************  FULL TIME  ****************


Match Details
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venue                : Estadio da Luz
Attendance           : 74,754
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benfica Match Info
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best player          : B_Zamora (Man of the Match)
Scorers              : K_McInally (8), S_Morison (49), R_Castias (64)
Sent Off             : N/A
Booked               : N/A
Injured              : N/A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester Utd Match Info
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best player          : Y_Hussein
Scorers              : Y_Hussein (1,26), J_Jenas (27), Sergio_Ramos (62)
Sent Off             : J_O_Shea (5)
Booked               : N/A
Injured              : N/A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Match Statistics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Benfica     |    Manchester Utd
Attempts on Goal     :          32        |       8
Off target           :          20        |       4
On target            :          12        |       4
Possession           :          63        |       37
Corners              :           3        |       1
Red Cards            :           0        |       1
Yellow Cards         :           0        |       0
Subs Used            :           3        |       3
Fouls                :          15        |       11
Key Tackles          :           6        |       6
Key Passes           :          21        |       6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Score          : Benfica 3 - 4 Manchester Utd
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Player Statistics - Benfica
Name          Pos  St  Tk  Ps  Sh  Ag | Min Sav Ktk Kps Ass Sht Gls Yel Red KAb TAb PAb SAb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E_Thorstvedt   GK  35   2   6   4  13 |  92   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0 -55   0   0   0
R_Neilson      DF   1  25  12   2  29 |  72   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  12   0
M_Laursen      DF   2  24   8   6  30 |  92   0   3   3   1   2   0   0   0   0  45  56   2
M_Lindberg     DF   1  24   8   8  42 |  92   0   0   1   0   1   0   0   0   0   0  12   8
Yann_M_Vila    DM   2  23  12   7  22 |  51   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  15   0   0
G_Hagi         MF   2   5  26  10  30 |  92   0   0   3   0   5   0   0   0   0   0  36   5
B_Zamora       MF   2  11  25   8  25 |  92   0   0   8   1   5   0   0   0   0 -20  96   6
P_Do_Shaw      MF   2   8  24   8  25 |  92   0   0   4   0   4   0   0   0   0   0  48  18
R_Castias      AM   2   8  23   9  29 |  76   0   1   0   0   1   1   0   0   0  15   0  28
K_McInally     FW   2   6   4  26  27 |  92   0   0   0   0   6   1   0   0   0   0   0  47
S_Morison      FW   1   2   6  25  36 |  92   0   0   1   0   8   1   0   0   0   0  12  42
J_Moreau       GK  27   1   2   2  14 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
Fernando_Mera  DF   4  24   8   7  27 |  20   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
B_Abdoulaye    DM   2  14  23   7  39 |  41   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  15   0   0
Di_Maria       MF   1   6  24   5  37 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
Y_Yiannicis    FW   1   3   6  22  24 |  16   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0

Player Statistics - Manchester Utd
Name          Pos  St  Tk  Ps  Sh  Ag | Min Sav Ktk Kps Ass Sht Gls Yel Red KAb TAb PAb SAb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P_Robinson     GK  28   2   4   3  18 |  92   9   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  15   0   0   0
Sergio_Ramos   DF   1  23   7  10  28 |  92   0   1   0   0   1   1   0   0   0  35  20  48
P_Leonard      DF   2  23   7   4  34 |  92   0   3   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  45   0   0
J_O_Shea       DF   2  22   7   2  38 |   5   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0 -10 -10 -10
J_Hunter       DM   1  23  10   8  32 |  51   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
J_Jenas        MF   1   2  24   4  33 |  92   0   0   3   1   1   1   0   0   0   0  56  28
J_Quigg        MF   2   5  23   5  30 |  92   0   0   1   1   0   0   0   0   0  20  52  20
J_Forrest      MF   2   9  22   8  37 |  56   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
Y_Hussein      AM   2   8  24   9  39 |  61   0   2   1   0   2   2   0   0   0  30  12  56
Z_Ibrahimovic  FW   1   5   6  23  37 |  92   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  12   0
H_Larsson      FW   2   6   7  22  42 |  92   0   0   0   0   4   0   0   0   0   0   0   4
W_Zenga        GK  24   3   4   4  15 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
C_Puyol        DF   1  21   8   5  36 |  41   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
Z_Zidane       MF   2   5  21   8  35 |  36   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
G_Hooper       FW   2   9   4  22  26 |  31   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
M_Klosenbeger  FW   1   3   5  21  36 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
1355733832 Produced from ESMS+ v3.08