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Van Nistelrooy strikes late to rescue United
MANCHESTER, England, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Ruud van Nistelrooy struck from close range five minutes from time to earn Manchester United a 2-1 win over Benfica in the Champions League Group D on Tuesday. The Dutch striker eased the pressure on his manager Alex Ferguson, sealing United's first win in five matches, after Simao Sabrosa's delightful free kick had looked to have earned the Portuguese champions a deserved draw in a repeat of the 1968 European Cup final. The injury-hit hosts took the lead through a deflected Ryan Giggs free kick just before halftime but Sabrosa's effort brought Benfica level before Van Nistelrooy once again proved United's saviour. His 38th goal in 43 Champions League matches for United also made him the third highest scorer in European Cup history with 47 in total, fittingly edging him one ahead of great Benfica striker Eusebio. The win left the English side top of the group standings with four points, one ahead of Benfica. Spain's Villarreal have two points and French team Lille one. EARLY OPPORTUNITIES Benfica had two good early opportunities, United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar plunging to his right to keep out a firm header by Ricardo Rocha and Fabrizio Miccoli shooting wide from a tight angle following a mistake by John O'Shea. Van Nistelrooy struck the top of the crossbar with a dipping shot from the
edge of the area and Sabrosa shot just wide before Giggs broke the deadlock six
minutes before the interval.
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