Match Report: FCSB 0-2 Manchester United | OneFootball

Manchester United cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over FCSB in what was their final group game of the UEFA Europa League.

Kobbie Mainoo emerged as the star of the match, exhibiting both his slick playmaking and his precise finishing in an attacking masterclass. Clearly, a number 10 role suits him.

With an automatic qualification spot for the knockouts almost guaranteed, Man United would have surely been looking to wrap up the group stage with a win, thereby avoiding the need to rely on other results to go their way.

Rubem Amorim’s players seemed calm and collected at the start, controlling the flow of the game and camping in the hosts’ half.

Eight minutes in, Tyrell Malacia received a yellow card for a slide tackle in which he took out Florin Tanase’s legs. A completely unnecessary error by the wing-back so early in the match.

The subsequent freekick involved a sublime cross from Risto Radunovic, finding Mihai Popescu, who slid in and put his shot inches wide of the far post, catching United’s defence off guard. That near miss should have surely convinced United to up their focus.

In the 15th minute, United came close to scoring as Kobbie Mainoo produced a well-timed run into the box, volleying his shot into the keeper’s gloves.

Barely a minute later, Christian Eriksen took a long-range shot that the keeper just managed to parry. A good attacking run from United.

Three minutes later, Mainoo missed a sitter. Rasmus Hojlund Cut back a pass from the left side of the goalmouth to Mainoo in the centre, who unnecessarily blasted his shot over the top. He surely would have regretted making a meal of what was such a clear goalscoring opportunity.

On the half-hour mark, Lisandro Martinez crossed the ball into the box, with Hojlund heading towards goal, only for the goalkeeper to stop the danger. Clearly, United had established their dominance, yet a goal was still lacking.

On the stroke of half-time, Malacia put a threatening low ball into the box, yet Hojlund was not positioned to pick up the pass. It was a prime opportunity for United to take the lead going into the break.

While United were clearly in control for the majority of the half, a poor performance in front of goal meant that the game remained goalless going into half-time.

As the second half began, Alejandro Garnacho came on for Malacia.

With his first touch of the game, Garnacho almost scored. Mainoo put an opportune through ball to the Argentine, whose shot beat the keeper but hit the post. 0-0, the match remained.

In the 56th minute, Hojlund got on the end of a witty through ball from Lisandro Martinez, taking a grounded shot from a tight left angle that was on target, only for the goalkeeper to make the save. Still, United could not produce the final product.

On the hour mark, Diogo Dalot broke the deadlock. Mainoo played a ball across the face of the goal to Dalot, who made a blistering run into the box, catching the defence off guard before firing the ball into the back of the net from close range. 1-0 to United.

Soon after the restart, the hosts almost drew level. took a long-range shot that beat the keeper, only to slam into the crossbar and bounce inches in front of the goal line. Tanase pounced on the rebound, but his header breezed wide.

68 minutes in, Mainoo went from assist-maker to goalscorer. The midfielder passed to Garnacho on the left before running into the box. Garnacho laid the ball back to Mainoo, who struck a grounded effort past the keeper to double United’s lead.

After the restart, Martinez made way for Leny Yoro, while Casemiro came on for Eriksen.

In the 78th minute, Mainoo almost made an assist as well when he passed to Hojlund. However, his shot wound up in the side netting. Clearly, playing in a more advanced position is working well for Mainoo, who has made several intelligent runs and produced some creative passes.

With 10 minutes to go, Joshua Zirkzee came on to replace Hojlund.

United won a corner, with Amad firing a cross into the box that met Zirkzee’s head, only to balloon over the top.

On the other end of the field, Marius Stefanescu took a shot that Altay Bayindir struggled to save, parrying wide.

Two minutes from time, Garnacho passed a through ball to Fernandes in the box, whose shot veered just wide of the far post.

Four minutes of added time were announced, handing United a few extra minutes to perhaps seal a third goal and truly put the game to bed.

Two minutes later, United earned a corner, with Matthijs de Ligt heading the ball over the top.

It was a comfortable victory for United, who continued their recent winning streak to secure their spot in the next round of the Europa League. It will be exciting to see how far United go in their European adventure.

Starting XI: Bayindir, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Fernandes, Hojlund, Malacia, Eriksen, Dalot, Mainoo, Collyer Subs: Garnacho, Yoro, Casemiro, Zirkzee

Featured image Vasili Mihai-Antonio via Getty Images

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