Manchester Utd win their first Europa league game this season

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in sports September 30, 2016

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the second-half winner with his first goal in five matches for manchester Utd, nodding in substitute Wayne Rooney’s mis-hit shot at the far post.

Check also: Clubs With The High Debts In English Premier League

It was Manchester Utd’s first effort on target, despite dominating at Old Trafford. Zorya offered little threat, although Sergio Romero had to be alert to save Paulinho’s shot just before the winner.

How Manchester Utd past Zorya Luhansk

The Red Devils are among the favourites to win Europe’s secondary club competition, but started the evening at the bottom of Group A following a defeat at Dutch side Feyenoord in their opening match.

And for more than an hour it looked as though Jose Mourinho’s men would stay there. Despite hogging over 70% of possession, United were slow and ponderous in the final third as Zorya’s well-drilled defence held firm.

But Zorya, making their debut in the Europa League group stage, were undone inside two minutes of Rooney’s introduction.

United move up to third, level on three points with Feyenoord and one adrift of Turkish leaders Fenerbahce, who travel to Old Trafford on 20 October in the next round of games.

Rooney makes inadvertent impact

Rooney had been expected to be restored to the United starting XI after being dropped for the premier League win against Leicester last weekend. But Mourinho’s plan to recall the England skipper was scuppered by a minor back injury.

The United manager decided that continuity was the policy in his absence, sticking with the attacking quartet – Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata – that started Saturday’s 4-1 win.

However, they offered little spark against a visiting side that finished fourth in the Ukrainian Premier League last season.

Rooney was summoned from the bench with 25 minutes left and inadvertently set up the winner, scuffing a half-volley into the turf which fortuitously bounced up for Ibrahimovic to bundle in.

“Wayne gave us different positions and speed when the opposing team was getting tired,” said Mourinho.

Source: BBC

Check also;

This is not a Paywall, but Newslex Point's journalism consumes a lot of time, hard-work and money. That's why we're kindly requesting you to support us in anyway they can, for as little as $1 or more, you can support us .

Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.