Portuguese links: A-P

14/04/2009 13:51, Report by Steve Morgan

Our alphabetical look at United's special relationship with Portugal begins with A to P...

A is for Anderson
Brazilian he may be but Anderson joined United from Porto. A is also for Alcochete, hothouse for Sporting Lisbon’s young tyros – and future Reds. Since 2002, this Carrington-esque academy on Lisbon’s southern outskirts has been panning for gold – with spectacular results. An agreement between United and Sporting in May 2003 bore sumptuous fruit three months later in the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo, with Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha – Nani to you – following in summer 2007. A also represents John Aston Jr – man of the match against Benfica at Wembley in 1968. The Salford-born winger’s industrious display and terrific deliveries from the left eclipsed even the brilliance of George Best on the night United hoisted a first European Cup.

B is for Benfica
One third of the Santa Trinidade (Holy Trinity) also comprising Sporting Lisbon and Porto. European Cup winners in 1961 and 1962, and finalists in 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988 and 1990, the Eagles are the tournament’s biggest aggregate victors: they swooped to conquer 18-0 against Stade Dudelange (10-0, 8-0) in 1965/66 – the year George Best stunned them in their own backyard in the quarter-final (see ‘U’). United have met Benfica seven times in the European Cup, winning six and losing one. The Reds clinched top spot in Group F in 2006/2007 after a 3-1 home win – Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha on target – which knocked Benfica out; tit-for-tat after the Portuguese inflicted United's exit at the first phase in 2005/06, the first such blow in 11 years.C is for close, but no cigar!
Trailing 4-0 to Porto in the 1977/78 European Cup Winners’ Cup, the Reds came within an ace of overturning the first-leg deficit on a raucous Old Trafford night. Dave Sexton’s men triumphed 5-2, exiting 6-5 on aggregate. C is also for Porto’s Jorge Costinha, whose last-gasp equaliser dumped us out of the Champions League in 2003/04 – heralding that horribly unforgettable sight of Jose Mourinho cavorting in glee down the OT touchline.

D is for dragon
Nickname of Porto – chosen, apparently, to ward off the eagles of Benfica and lions of Sporting Lisbon. The Dragons’ den, aptly named Estádio do Dragão (opened in 2003/04 for the 2004 European Championships), is the club’s fourth home. United were early visitors – and ultimately fall guys: Porto won 2-1 and Benni McCarthy’s equalising header was the first the Reds had conceded in more than seven hours of European football.

E is for Eusebio da Silva Ferreira
Had it not been for Alex Stepney’s superb reflex save, the Black Pearl of Benfica may well have won the '68 final at the death in normal time. These days, Eusebio carries a torch for the Reds. “United have always been my favourite English club. Sir Alex has created a football family, as we did at Benfica. I always look for their results.”

F is for Quinton Fortune
So far the only South African to score for United in Europe. Fortune smiled when he netted first in Porto in 2003/04 but compatriot McCarthy had the last laugh, hitting two for the hosts.G is for goals, goals, goals
Ruud van Nistelrooy notched a club record 38 goals in 43 Champions League games, the last coming against Benfica at home in September 2005. Only Alfredo di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Filippo Inzaghi have achieved a better goals-to-games ratio.

H is for hundred club
Sir Alex Ferguson notched a century of Champions League matches against Porto in 2003/04. And although that night ended in defeat, it was only his 22nd, having won 53 and drawn 25 of those 100 games, his charges scoring 185 goals and conceding 99.

I is for “incredible finishing”
High praise from Sir Alex for McCarthy’s heading prowess after the striker’s brace in the 2003/04 clash with Porto. The United boss said, “I’ve looked at his second goal time and time again on video, and every time I just think ‘What a header!’”

J is for Jose Alvalade Stadium
Home of Sporting Lisbon since the club’s foundation in July 1906 by Jose Holtreman Roquette, grandson of the Viscount of Alvalade. A new ground was built for Euro 2004, with United the first visitors for a friendly in August 2003. That night, a 3-1 win for the hosts, was most memorable for a young teenager called Cristiano Ronaldo stealing the show. Whatever happened to him?

K is for Brian Kidd
The birthday boy whose header put United 3-1 up at Wembley. The 19-year-old played a blinder, also putting George Best in for the second, and setting up the fourth for Bobby Charlton.
L is for late show
A typical United trick, rarely performed better than in 1968 when Matt Busby inspired his fatigued troops with the words, "Just pass the ball to each other and you will beat them." The Reds' extra vim in extra time put the game beyond Benfica with three goals.

M is for Mozambique
Birthplace of former United assistant Carlos Queiroz and Eusebio, who won 11 league titles with Benfica – something Giggs is hoping to emulate with the Reds this season.

N is for no.2
Walter Smith started work as United’s second-in-command the week United prepared to face Porto in the second-round, second-leg clash in 2003/04.

O is over the limit
After crowd trouble marred the first-round clash with St Etienne in the 1977/78 European Cup Winners’ Cup, United fans attending the second-round trip to Porto were obliged to prove their sobriety by walking in a straight line down the aisle of the coach.

P is for prodigal son
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first return to the Jose Alvalade Stadium, where he headed home the only goal against Sporting Lisbon was a curious affair. The goal, which secured United’s 100th win in the competition, was met with muted celebration by the scorer himself and the home fans clearly appreciated his reaction, responding with a standing ovation. Ronaldo mused, “Sporting Lisbon will always be close to my heart, but I am happy tonight; happy to have scored and for United to have won.”


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