Louis Saha's second-half strike gave Manchester United their first Champions League away win in three years and allowed them to avenge last season's nightmare in Lisbon with a 1-0 win over Benfica.
Rarely convincing against a Benfica side responsible for their embarrassingly early European exit 12 months ago, United nevertheless carved out a triumph based on grit, determination and the intermittent flair provided by Cristiano Ronaldo.
If the one-fingered gesture he produced as he left the Stadium of Light last year saw him depart in disgrace, Ronaldo could have got away with another on this occasion, signalling the margin of victory.
Though Saha took the glory with his third goal in two Champions League games, it was Ronaldo who threatened more, especially in the latter stages as the visitors looked to exploit the gaps left by a Benfica side desperate to force a deserved equaliser.
The victory cemented United's position at the top of Group F, although concern still lingers about the form of Wayne Rooney, who worked hard without looking like ending a barren streak in this competition that now extends to 11 matches. Looking decidedly heavy legged, he was replaced by Darren Fletcher five minutes from time.
Having expressed total faith in Rooney prior to kick-off, Alex Ferguson hardly helped his young striker by stationing him on the left side of what was supposed to be a three-man support team playing just behind lone striker Saha.
However, with most of United's attacks coming down the other flank, where Ronaldo was attempting to put his nightmare of last December behind him, Rooney was a virtual bystander.
Struggling for touch and control, the England man was a shadow of the player who has terrorised defences throughout his fledgling career.
Not that Rooney was on his own in trudging away from the opening period feeling he had not done himself justice.
Given Ferguson was persuaded to part with a possible £18.6million for Michael Carrick in the belief his passing could open up the best of defences, the former Tottenham Hotspur star was a shocking disappointment.
For a player of such supposed high calibre, Carrick gave the ball away far too often, seemed to bring United's attacks to a grinding halt on a regular basis and was also rightly booked for a late tackle on Petit.
It was Nemanja Vidic though who gifted possession to Paulo Jorge and presented Benfica with the best opportunity of the opening period.
Jorge quickly found Nuno Gomes, who took aim from 20 yards, only for Edwin van der Sar to make a good save.
The Dutchman was certainly one of United's most effective performers, along with Gabriel Heinze, who marked his first European outing since rupturing cruciate ligaments in Villarreal last season with typical tenacity.
Ronaldo too rose above average, leaving Georgios Karagounis for dead with a smart turn midway through the half before letting fly with a stinging 25-yard shot that proved too much for Quim to hold.
Had Saha's luck been in, he might have been presented with a tap-in. As it was, the ball bounced up awkwardly as the Frenchman rushed in, struck him on the chest and bobbled wide.
If anything, Benfica took an even firmer stranglehold on the contest at the start of the second half than they had done in the first, with Rooney's unhappy evening continuing with two woeful passes which gifted possession to the hosts.
The one saving grace for the visitors was that their goal was still intact, a fact they duly exploited on the hour with a strike which was as thrilling as it was unexpected.
A piece of trademark quick thinking from Paul Scholes saw him send Ronaldo racing forward with a pass delivered from inside his own area.
As he accelerated forward, Ronaldo had the vision to spot Saha lurking to his right and, after rolling the pass onwards, the Frenchman continued his run, stepped inside, then smashed a superb shot into the top corner, with the aid of a slight deflection.
The goal gave the game a totally different complexion. Suddenly, United's rearguard action looked more like an intelligent attempt to soak up pressure and hit on the break.
Saha might have grabbed a second, as might Rooney, whose fitness should at least improve for the amount of running he did.
It took a remarkable triple save from Quim, who denied Ronaldo, Fletcher and Carrick a minute from time, to prevent United doubling their margin of victory.
