MANCHESTER UNITED 1, YOUNG BOYS 0
Manchester United are through to the knockout stage of the Champions League after a Fergie Time winner scored by Marouane Fellaini.
Fellaini turned a fired past David Von Ballmoos in the Young Boys goal after collecting Romelu Lukaku’s flick on from Luke Shaw’s hopeful punt upfield.
Victory might not have been possible had Fellaini been substituted off for Juan Mata – as had been the original plan – before Antonio Valencia was withdrawn instead due to injury.
The relief was palpable for Reds boss Jose Mourinho – who made six changes from the side which drew 0-0 against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
He picked up a case of full water bottles – no mean feat – and smashed them to the floor in his own way of celebrating avoiding a winner-takes-all sixth group game showdown in Valencia for the right to proceed to the last 16 of the Champions League.
United know they dodged a bullet tonight and will hope for a favourable draw for the knockout phase but will need a big improvement to see themselves proceed further.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, Young Boys 0
David De Gea: 8. Super save from Garcia in the second half, unsighted from a corner as his deflected shot came in low and the Spaniard palmed it away to keep the Reds in the tie.
Antonio Valencia: 5. Poor, then injured, and replaced by Juan Mata.
Chris Smalling: 7. Some long balls into the attack. Not much to worry about defensively.
Phil Jones: 7. Good interceptions to keep United ticking.
Luke Shaw: 6. Attacking outlet down the left. Shoved Nsame off the pitch as he walked slowly off late on.
Nemanja Matic: 6. Clumsy foul in the first half. Offered little going forward.
Marouane Fellaini: 7. Supported the attack but few chances to impress, missing a great chance in the second half with the just the keeper to beat but popped up at the end with the winner.
Fred: 6. Added a little more energy to midfield.
Jesse Lingard: 6. Worked up some good chances and had a go himself but to no avail.
Marcus Rashford: 5. A little greedy and shooting off target.
Anthony Martial: 5. Worked hard with little end product.
Romelu Lukaku (for Jesse Lingard 64): 6. Almost set up Martial, headed a chance wide with the goal at his mercy but his flick-on set up Fellaini for the winner.
Paul Pogba (for Fred 64): 5. Tricks didn’t come off but he did marshall the midfield and almost created a goal for Chris Smalling.
Juan Mata (for Antonio Valencia 72): 5. A deeper role for the playmaker. Hooked a late shot over the bar.
GOALS – Manchester United 1, Young Boys 0
Man Utd 1, Young Boys 0: 90+1. Marouane Fellaini turns and shoots in injury time to convert Romelu Lukaku’s flick on of Luke Shaw’s long punt upfield
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Young Boys 0
Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia (Mata 72), Smalling, Jones, Shaw, Matic, Fellaini, Fred, Lingard, Rashford, Martial
Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Pereira, McTominay
Booked: Matic 22, Valencia 72
Young Boys: Von Ballmoos, Mbabu, Ali Camara, Von Bergen (Garcia 46), Benito, Sow, Lauper, Sulejmani (Fassnacht 66), Aebisher, Assale, Nsame (Ngamaleu 83)
Young Boys Subs not used: Wolfi, Bertone, Schick, Seydoux
Booked: Camara 48, Benito 61