MANCHESTER UNITED 1, FC ASTANA 0
Mason Greenwood scored his first Manchester United goal to help the Reds to a 1-0 win over FC Astana of Kazakhstan in their Europa League group game played on September 19, 2019.
Fred hit the crossbar and Jesse Lingard had a shot palmed against the post by Astana goalkeeper Nenad Eric while Marcos Rojo’s crosses and shots went unconverted as United struggled to prise open down the visitors.
The highly experienced FC Astana side were able to hold off the inexperienced United side for so long at Old Trafford so it was a relief when the Reds finally broke the deadlock with 17 minutes to go.
And the Bradford-born 17-year-old will take the plaudits for taking the shot from a difficult angle.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0
Sergio Romero: 6. Little to do.
Diogo Dalot: 6. First game back after lengthy injury., crossing poor but good skill to beat a man in the Astana area in the first half.
Phil Jones: 7. The experienced head in defence.
Axel Tuanzebe: 7. One ball came at him too quickly in the Astana box. Not much to worry about defensively and made a great injury time clearance.
Marcos Rojo: 7. Spent a lot of time attacking the left flank and his raking crosses proved extremely dangerous – including one which should have been put away – and tested Nanad Eric with a free kick. Tried an outrageous rabona which, like most of what United tried on the night, failed to come off.
Fred: 7. Re-energised, hit the crossbar within third minute of the game with a 30 yard strike but then blotted his copybook with a poor pass that was almost converted by Roman Murtazeyev on a solo break
Nemanja Matic: 7. Under little pressure.
Angel Gomes: 6. Decent set piece in the first half deserved better finishing. Faded away and was replaced by Juan Mata.
Tahith Chong: 6. A little isolated when he got the ball, didn’t gamble when Rojo’s inviting second half cross rolled across the 6 yard box, and was robbed.
Mason Greenwood: 7. A little hasty when he got his chances, too slow to react to Marcos Rojos second half cross but kept his composure for his late goal.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Had a few great chances to score but was feeding on scraps.
Jesse Lingard (for Tahith Chong, 68): 6. Had a shot pushed onto the post by Nenad Eric.
Juan Mata (for Angel Gomes, 68): 6. More creativity that United craved.
Ashley Young (For Marcos Rojo, 78): No time to mark.
GOAL – Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0
Man Utd 1, FC Astana 0: 73. Mason Greenwood decided to shoot from wide on the right, 6 yards out and threaded the ball through goalkeeper Nanad Eric’s legs to open his United account.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0
Man Utd: Romero, Dalot, Jones, Tuanzebe, Rojo, Fred, Matic, Gomes (Mata 68), Chong (Lingard 68), Greenwood, Rashford
Man Utd Subs not used: Grant, Maguire, Young, Garner, McTominay
Booked: Fred 85 (foul on Ivan Maevski)
Goal: Greenwood 73
FC Astana: Eric, Rukavina, Postnikov, Tomasevic, Shomko, Maevski, Simonovic (Janga 46), Sigurjonsson, Rotariu (Mubele 82), Murtazeyev (Logvinenko 46)
FC Astana Subs not used: Mokin, Muzikov, Beysebekov, Pertsukh
Referee: Francois Letexier
Attendance: 50,783