LAST NIGHT'S MATCH REPORTS

The last five minutes, a season hurtling into chaos and the ball loose in the Benfica penalty area ­ there was no one Sir Alex Ferguson would rather have waiting at these moments that can define seasons than Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Dutch striker has more spectacular goals among his collection of 38 in the Champions' League for Manchester United but it would be difficult to recall another that was quite so crucial in the course of his service at Old Trafford.

This was not quite the redemption that Ferguson would have been hoping for after defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and the boos that accompanied it, but at times like these he will be forgiven for taking victory in any form.

From Simão Sabrosa's inspired equaliser on 59 minutes the old doubts began to crowd in on a United team ravaged by injuries, uncertain in defence and desperate for a victory that would enable them to reassert their influence on a season threatening to unravel before it ever really began.

There was a goal on only his second start of the season for Ryan Giggs, and the drama of Van Nistelrooy's late intervention, but last night was significant for what it said about Ferguson's relationship with the great 66,112-strong jury of Old Trafford.

This week he has refused to discuss the possibility that, in light of the booing, his relationship with the great following of the club he has rebuilt over 19 years may finally be altering: last night they took it upon themselves to tell him that it remains intact.

On 18 minutes they rose, more out of duty than euphoria, to demand of each other "Stand up if you love Fergie". They were watching a United team that had just one regular among its defence, a side missing eight injured senior players as well as the suspended Wayne Rooney and there was no denying that the performance was a cause for tension.

Benfica had their chances to win, and were prevented at least four times by the agility of Edwin van der Sar, but among the many victorious skirmishes that make a season this one should prove more significant to United than many.

The Times:

This time they came to praise Sir Alex Ferguson, not to bury him, but, at times last night, even the fiercest Manchester United loyalists might have struggled to suppress their concerns.

It took a scrambled late goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy to dispel talk of a deepening crisis at Old Trafford and, unless they are genuinely as stupid as Ferguson’s assistant, Carlos Queiroz, seems to think, United’s supporters will not read too much into a somewhat flattering scoreline.

Whatever this was, it did not feel as if it was the empire striking back. This was United battling, sometimes desperately, against a Benfica team who had seemed ready to prey on the anxiety filtering from the pitch into the stands and back.

Van Nistelrooy scored the decisive goal, his sixth in ten appearances this season, but again it was another Dutchman, Edwin van der Sar, who could claim to be the real match-winner, with two excellent saves before Ryan Giggs’s goal in the first half and another after he was beaten by Simão’s wonderful, curling free kick on the hour.

Ferguson left the field to hymns of praise from the Stretford End, a heartening reminder that recent disenchantment has not damaged a deeply entrenched respect for his achievements.

If those fans looked closely enough — something that Queiroz suggests they are incapable of doing — they might have noticed a deviation from the maligned 4-3-3 system into something more like 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1, with Paul Scholes in a more advanced position behind Van Nistelrooy, but Ferguson and his assistant could not claim that this was a triumph of tactics or, indeed, talent.

On this occasion, United owed far more to the grit and determination that teams are forced to show in times of trouble. In short, it was back to basics.

The Guardian:

Somehow it felt appropriate that Ruud van Nistelrooy provided the decisive moment on a night when the majority of Manchester United's supporters reminded Sir Alex Ferguson how much they cherished his presence.

Including qualifiers this was the 47th Champions League goal of his career, a record that takes him above Benfica's Eusebio to third in the list of European Cup scorers behind Alfredo Di Stefano and Raúl. More importantly, it spared Ferguson from the possibility of more discontent at the final whistle.

Instead, this was a night the manager will savour, his badly depleted team overcoming a lively, imaginative Benfica side amid some enthusiastic backing from the fans who had barracked him three days earlier. Ferguson has had a torrid time but he left to a standing ovation, with United top of Group D and no hint of the troubles that had plagued him at the weekend.

Perhaps the moral of this story is that anyone who wants to dance on Ferguson's grave should ensure the coffin is firmly nailed down. Since Saturday's acrimonious defeat to Blackburn Rovers supporters' groups have estimated he has only 60% of fans' backing, so he would have been grateful for the sympathetic applause that accompanied his pre-match walk to the dugout and the raucous cheers at the end as he strode to the tunnel.

He will have been even more enamoured by the moment, after 16 minutes, when harmony was restored. "Stand up if you love Fergie," ordered the Stretford End, and within seconds it had snaked round the stadium. Ferguson remained impassive, but he cannot have failed to be moved by 60,000 people rising to their feet.

It was a touching gesture but Ferguson's primary concern was the events on the field. In that respect, it would be remiss to ignore the long spells when United's players struggled to cope with Benfica's slick passing.

Telegraph:

Sir Alex Ferguson had hoped Manchester United would make a point about their determination and ambition last night, following criticism of their recent travails, and gloriously they made three. Just when United appeared heading for a disappointing draw, Ruud van Nistelrooy poached the winner with six minutes remaining.

Van Nistelrooy's scoring record in Europe is remarkable, 38 goals in 43 appearances for United, and few can have been more welcome. Whatever the Dutchman may think of a tactical system that leaves him as a lone striker, he showed his finisher's touch when it counted. He also struck the bar with a marvellous first-half effort.

Unlike against Blackburn on Saturday, no cries of "4-4-2" emerged from the terraces and the United fans appeared keen to voice their support for Ferguson. A chant of "Stand up if you love Fergie" soon had most of the ground on their feet.

So despite some poor passing that threatened to cost them dear, United eventually made light of the absence of so many regulars. Their appetite questioned recently, United's work ethic was terrific. Ryan Giggs was always lively on his 100th European display.

United had needed to negotiate some nervy moments before Giggs' 39th-minute strike eased some fevered brows, although the tension increased when Simao brilliantly equalised to make for a frantic final half-hour of this compelling game.

As in the first half, another set-piece elicited sweet relief for United six minutes from time. Giggs' outswinging corner from the right was met by the head of Ferdinand, the ball deflecting into Van Nistelrooy's path. The master-poacher made no mistake from close range.

Manchester United (4-5-1): Van der Sar; Bardsley, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Richardson; Ronaldo, Fletcher, Smith, Scholes, Giggs; Van Nistelrooy. Substitutes not used: Howard (gk), Park, Miller, Pique, Ebanks-Blake, Rossi, Martin.

Benfica (4-4-2): Moreira; Nelson, Luisao, Rocha, Leo; Beto (Mantorras, 87), Petit, Fernandes (Dos Santos, 87), Sabrosa; Miccoli (Pereira, 81), Nuno Gomes. Substitutes not used: Quim (gk), Anderson, Geovanni, Karyaka.

Referee: L Michel (Slovakia).