MAN UNITED 3, PARTIZAN BELGRADE 0
Manchester United’s passage to the knockout phase of the Europa League could not have been much more straightforward as they comfortably beat Partizan Belgrade at Old Trafford.
Unbeaten in group L with 10 points from four group games, the Reds progressed with two matches still to play on a night when they found a route to goal.
Front players Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford each found the net as this was the first time since the 4-0 opening-day win against Chelsea that they had scored more than one goal in a home game.
Indeed, with more clinical finishing they should conceivably have won by twice the margin, something Rashford later conferred.
“We managed to score three goals, but it could have been a lot more. I think it was a good performance be there are things we can improve on,” he said.
The Serbian side offered no threat – no shots on target in the whole match – as United stretched their unbeaten run in the Europa League to 15 games, something no other team can equal.
While it was cold and wet, the 62,955 who braved the elements were treated to an entertaining display from the Reds.
However, without wanting to get carried away, this was a Partizan side which was decidedly ordinary and United didn’t have much to beat.
Embed from Getty ImagesReds’ manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was delighted with his front players, though he said they still lack consistency.
“I am very happy. That is why I played the three of them and a strong team. When we create chances, we needed players to take them,” he said.
“All three of the goals were high class, though we should have had more and filled our boots.
“Mason showed great composure, Anthony showed the skill of the night and I was pleased that Marcus scored with his left foot, something he needs to do more.”
Solskjaer added it was important to qualify as quickly as possible as he didn’t want to make the long trip to Kazakhstan to play Astana needing to win.
“Maybe we will be able to rest a few as after that game we have Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City to play,” he explained.
United made four changes from the side beaten at Bournemouth on Saturday.
David De Gea, Victor Lindelof, Andreas Pereira and David James were given a break.
Into the team came Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo, Juan Mata and teenage striker Mason Greenwood.
United had a fifth minute let off when the Serbian side had a bizarre goal ruled out when Nigerian Umar Sadiq was caught offside.
Harry Maguire, sliding in to block, saw his interception cannon off Sadiq and loop over Romero only for their despair to quickly turn to relief.
It jolted United out of their lethargy as Marcus Rashford had two chances in quick succession, firing wide and then forcing a decent block by keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Rashford had another clear-cut chance but he blazed over when meeting Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s inviting cross.
Greenwood showed Rashford how find a route to goal when he broke the deadlock in the 21st minute.
Rashford provided the assist with a crossfield pass from the left and Greenwood, only just 18, cut inside to find the net with a low, left-foot shot, his third senior goal of the season.
Martial also went agonisingly close with a shot which appeared on target until in veered wide at the last minute.
But he was not to be denied as he made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute with a brilliant solo effort.
Greenwood won possession and the ball rebounded to Martial who, surrounded by three defenders, wriggled past them all after a weaving run and slotted the ball low past Stojkovic for his fifth goal of the season.
Martial ought to have made it six moments later when, after being put clean through, he fired well over.
United put the game to bed when Rashford added a third goal in the 49th minute with arguably his most difficult chance of the night.
He latched on to an Ashley Young cut back and lashed a shot from 15 yards into the top corner.
Young then bent a free kick into the side netting as it threatened to be an avalanche of goals.
Fred was denied by Stojkovic who did well to tip his free kick over the bar as it dipped in.
United made their first change mid-half when Fred made way for James Garner who was making his Old Trafford debut.
A second substitution soon followed as Pereira took over from Rashford.
United’s third change was enforced as Scott McTominay limped off to be replaced by Jesse Lingard with 15 minutes left as the game petered out in the last half hour with the game won.