MAN UTD 3, ST ETIENNE 0
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first hat trick for Manchester United and 17th of his career moved the Reds to within touching distance of a last 16 place in the Europa League.
The Swede’s treble gives United a commanding lead going into the second leg of their last 32 tie at French side St Etienne.
Ibrahimovic took his total to 17 goals in 14 games against St Etienne, more than he has scored against any other clubs, while he now has 23 in his debut season for United.
It was by no means a walk in the park, though, as St Etienne managed 14 goal attempts to United’s 21 but, significantly, not one was on target.
And despite some enterprising and adventurous play, they fell short in the final third to the relief of the Reds.
Manager Jose Mourinho was pleased with the result, but was unhappy with the attitude of his players in the opening period.
“I could sense before the game in the dressing room there was too much noise and laughter, and my staff said some of our players were not focused in the warm up,” he explained.
Mourinho added that was evident was United’s defence was carved open almost immediately from the kick off.
He continued: “Yes I am delighted with the result, especially as in the first half we played so badly and we were fortunate to be winning 1-0 when we didn’t deserve to due to a lack of concentration.
“Had it been 1-1, as it could have been, it would have been a totally different second half.
“My players were not focused and the adrenalin in their bodies not right as we saw at the start. And when you don’t concentrate, it is difficult to recover it.”
Mourinho added he was confident his side would given an improved showing in the second half as was proved.
He said: “If we improved, I was confident we would have an improved result. And to score three goals and not concede any, I am happy, but not over the moon.”
And having witnessed how dangerous St Etienne were, Mourinho added he won’t be taking any liberties in the second leg.
He added: “I respect football and know it can be nasty. I don’t want my team to be punished, and I will go with a strong team.”
United made two changes from the side that started Saturday’s home game against Watford as Sergio Romero was preferred to David De Gea in goal while Maraoune Fellaini took over from Henrikh Mkhitaryan who was ill.
Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Phil Jones were all ruled out through injury.
There was a warm embrace before kick off involving Paul and Florentin Pogba who were on opposing sides with their mother watching from a sponsors’ box at Old Trafford.
And visibility at the start was poor as a cloud of smoke filled the ground from green and red flares. Surely an investigation will be launched into how so many were smuggled in.
The French side made a bright start and could easily have taken the lead after two moments of indecision in the United defence.
But it was St Etienne’s Stephane Ruffier who was the first keeper called into action in the 10th minute diving full length to his left to turn away a drive from Anthony Martial.
United made the breakthrough in the 15th minute, and they certainly had an element of good fortune.
Ibrahimovic won a free kick which replays clearly showed wan’t a foul. And the Swede’s free took a deflection off Vincent Pajot in the defensive wall. Keeper Ruffier lay on the ground wrong footed as the ball trickled over the line.
Juan Mata was denied a second United goal by a brilliant save from Ruffier as United looked to double their lead.
St Etienne came close to drawing level when Henri Saivet shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
United ought to have gone 2-0 ahead when Martial’s shot after a mesmerising run was kept out by the boot of Ruffier only for Ibrahimovic to fire the rebound over from six yards when it looked as though he could not miss.
St Etienne continued to carve out chances, but they were invariably off target as the visitors lacked a cutting edge.
United made a change at the break as Fellaini was replaced by Jesse Lingard.
Ibrahimovic had the ball in the net, but he had strayed offside before meeting Juan Mata’s cross.
Ruffier was called into action again to block a fierce shot from Martial and then tip over Ibrahimovic’s follow-up effort.
Antonio Valencia and Pogba also went close to adding a second goal when both their drive flew narrowly wide.
United ought to have added a second when Pogba headed against the crossbar from six yards after meeting Daley Blind’s free kick. It was the eighth time this season the midfielder has been denied by the woodwork.
Marcus Rashford replaced Mata with 20 minutes left as the youngster made his 50th appearance for the Reds.
United received a let off with 17 minutes left when Nolan Roux was released and he lobbed keeper Romero only to see his effort land on the roof of the net.
It was to prove a costly miss as United almost immediately made it 2-0. Rashford’s electrifying burst of pace released him on the left and he cross for Ibrahimovic to tap in from six yards.
And Lingard almost made it 3-0 moments later firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
United made their third change with six minutes left when Ashley Young took over from Martial.
The hat-trick goal came with two minutes left after Ibrahimovic was fouled by Kevin Theophile-Catherine and the Swede picked himself up to score.
But equally important was the clean sheet and Romero has not conceded a goal in his last six appearances for the Reds, though he can rarely have had as little to do in a game as the French side failed to register a shot on target.