By Daily Sports on November 8, 2019
Manchester United cruised past Partizan Belgrade to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League with two games to spare.
First-half goals from Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial were followed by a powerful finish from Marcus Rashford after the break to complete United's biggest home win since August.
The result keeps Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men top of Group L. Victory in their final match against AZ Alkmaar on 12 December will ensure a top seeding in the last 32, no matter what happens when they go to Kazakhstan to play Astana in three weeks.
They are the only side in the competition not to concede a goal this season. It also extended their unbeaten run in the Europa League to 15 matches, three short of Chelsea's tournament record of 18.
It wasn’t all good news for United, though. Scott McTominay hurt the inside of his right foot in an innocuous challenge and although the Scotland midfielder tried to continue, he had to be replaced by Jesse Lingard 15 minutes from time.
Hosts find their shooting boots
Manchester United’s Europa League group campaign could hardly be described as exciting as it passed its halfway point.
They had scored two goals in their first three games and not had a shot on target in open play since a left-footed effort from Jesse Lingard in the final minute of the first match against Astana at Old Trafford on 19 September.
A crowd bolstered by nearly 1,000 noisy Serbs only had to wait eight minutes for that run to come to an end as Juan Mata found Rashford with a short pass, only for Vladimir Stojkovic to make a close-range save.
By that point, both sides had been denied a goal by an offside flag, which would have been a relief for Harry Maguire given it was his attempted clearance that looped over Sergio Romero off Umar Sadiq.
United's eventual seven shots on target was a figure they have exceeded only three times in all competitions this season. (BBC)
•PHOTO: Man U players
Source Daily Sports
Posted November 8, 2019
You may also like...
Algeria qualify for AFCON 2017
United States 0 Brazil 2: Neymar enjoys winning...
Infantino eyes more World Cup slots for Africa...
Real Madrid Can ‘Pay Me Up’ and I’ll...
FIFA Monday meeting to determine Eagles’ World Cup...
Pirlo Returns To Juventus As Under-23 Manager

Elite athletes arrive for 11th Okpekpe Int’l 10km Road Race
Slavia Prague reach agreement with Eagles prospect Ayaosi
NBF eyes Commonwealth Games redemption after Olympics failure
GTI Congratulates Rangers, Commends NPFL Board For Historic Season
Chelsea may benefit from missing Europe next season, says Rooney
3SC end 27-year wait for continental ticket
Lagos woos Otedola to champion cycle fest
African Open: Onyinyechi smashes world record as Nigeria wins 49 medals
Okpekpe Int’l 10km Race gets broadcast deal
Plymouth striker Oseni shocked by Nigeria call-up
African athletes possess NFL traits in abundance — Umenyiora
AFCON 2027: Udeze warns Chelle not to underestimate opponents
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,800 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,124 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,076 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,643 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,555 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,457 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,290 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,858 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,043 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,537 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,967 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,412 views)