MAN UNITED 4, FENERBAHCE 1
Manchester United scored four goals in an enthralling 17-minute spell against Turkish team Fenerbahce to leap from third to first place in their Europa League group.
Two penalties from Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial – amazingly netted less than three minutes apart – broke the deadlock.
They were followed by further goals by Pogba and Jesse Lingard while former Red Robin van Persie scored a consolation goal for the visitors on an emotional return to Old Trafford.
Either side of the goals, which came in a lively spell, it was a pretty mundane match in which there was little of whet the appetite.
It was, however, a win to savour for Jose Mourinho lifting confidence as he prepares for Sunday’s return to Chelsea.
He said: “I am happy with the performance and happy with individual performances and happy with the result.
“It is a difficult group and we put ourselves in a difficult position losing our first match.
“To go to Istanbul for our next game without a win would have been more difficult so I am happy.”
Mourinho was amused when asked about Pogba’s performance adding: “He has gone from being the worst player in the Premier League to the best in the space of 48 hours from Einstein’s.
“We know he is a very good player, but he needs time to show his potential. I know Italian football and it is completely different to the Premier League.
“There is a different intensity and in Italy you have space and time to play an can have a number of touches. Everything is different.
“He needs time to adapt, but he is a self-confident boy and was not depressed by what people say.
“It is always nice when a player scores and his second was such a beautiful goal.”
United made seven changes from the side that kicked off at Liverpool three days earlier as this was very much a second strong side.
David De Gea, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Pogba were the only survivors.
Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw were the new full-back pairing, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata and Lingard were in midfield while Wayne Rooney and Martial provided the attacking thrust.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini were the big hitters in reserve on the bench.
Van Persie made an emotional return to Old Trafford while the Fenerbahce side also included former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.
It took 24 minutes before either side created a chance after a lukewarm opening, and then Martial glanced a far-post header wide from Mata’s cross.
United made the breakthrough on the half hour when Mata, put clear by Carrick’s long pass, when brought down after a clumsy challenge by Simon Kjaer and Pogba scored from the spot.
Amazingly United were awarded a second spot kick two minutes left when Martial broke away on the left and he was clipped from behind by Sener Ozbayrakli.
This time Martial picked himself up to fire home a low kick beyond the dive of keeper Volkan Demirel for his second goal of the season.
Fenerbahce could have halved the deficit when Souza wriggled free, but De Gea stood up well to block the midfielder’s shot.
United made it 3-0 in first half stoppage time when Rooney and Lingard combined to set up Pogba who, from inside the D at the edge of the box, fired a first-time shot into the roof of the net, his third goal of the campaign.
Marcos Rojo replaced Smalling for the second half when United quickly made it 4-0 after another excellent build up. This time it featured Pogba and Rooney who laid off the ball for Lingard to power home a low drive from outside the box, his second of the season.
With the game won, Mourinho was able to throw on Memphis Depay and Tim Fosu-Mensah in the last quarter to give them game time.
United could have added a fifth goal with 12 minutes left when Carrick and Depay helped release Mata who, through on goal, was denied by a good block by keeper Demirel.
Fenerbahce scored a consolation with seven minutes left as van Persie slotted home an Emmanuel Emenike from inside the six-yard box.
The Dutchman didn’t celebrate out of respect for his former club and the whole ground gave him a standing ovation for his gesture.
Fenerbahce may even had added a second gaol when Souza’s long-range effort forced a decent save from De Gea low to his right.
Van Persie left the pitch to another standing ovation as the 33-year-old held back to applaude the fans no doubt aware this could well be his last-ever appearance at Old Trafford.