MAN UTD 5, CLUB BRUGGE 0
(United won 6-1 on aggregate)
Manchester United breezed into the last 16 of the Europa League following an emphatic victory against Club Brugge.
It was a night to remember as the Reds won a European game by a five-goal margin for the first time since November 2013 when they beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in the group stage of the Champions League.
In an opening half, in which United played some exhilarating football, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side building an unassailable 3-0 and 4-1 aggregate lead with goals from Bruno Fernandes, a home debut goal for Odion Ighalo and Fred.
Late goals from Scott McTominay and Fred merely reinforced United’s supremacy.
And United would have won by a wider margin but for the heroics of former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
But United’s task was made easier as they had an extra man for three quarters of the game after having Simon Deli send off for a deliberate handball to keep out a shot from Daniel James.
Embed from Getty ImagesSolskjaer was delighted with his team’s performance, especially in the opening period.
He said: “We played some exceptional football, first touch and with confidence in our play.
“When it was 1-0 and they had a player sent off it helped, but our imagination was good.
“When you score goals and play like that it creates confidence, let your shoulders down, express and enjoy yourself.”
Solskjaer was especially pleased with Fernandes’ contribution as he had a hand in the opening three goals.
And he was pleased with loanee Ighalo who scored his first goal for the Reds.
United made five changes from the side that kicked off Sunday’s home league game against Watford.
There was a first start for new signing Ighalo and recalls for Sergio Romero, Eric Bailly, Juan Mata and McTominay.
The players to lose out were David De Gea, Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic, Mason Greenwood and the injured Anthony Martial.
There was an explosive start to the match in which United could have been 2-0 ahead inside three minutes.
Mata and Fernandes were both denied by super saves from Mignolet.
Fernades saw his long-range drive take a deflection before Mignolet pushed it on to the upright.
Brugge, backed by a huge travelling army, also had a half chance after a defensive slip but United managed to scramble the ball to safety as David Okereke was ready to capitalise.
They also had a further chance in the 11th minute when Romero palmed a cross to Mats Rits who shot narrowly over.
Fernandes forced another decent save from Mignolet in a remarkably open start as both teams went toe to toe.
United took the lead in the 27th minute though a Fernandes penalty after almost five minutes of mayhem.
James’ goalbound shot was kept out by centre back Simon Deli with a full-length dive, a save Mignolet would have been proud of.
It was a cast iron red card which Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk produced. But after a lengthy review, VAR instructed the match official to consult the pitchside monitor to verify the decision.
Fernandes held his nerve to send Mignolet the wrong way from the spot, his second goal for the club in successive matches and United’s 11th successful spot kick from 15, the most awarded to any Premier League team.
United capitalised on their extra man to make it 2-0 seven minutes later when Ighalo scored his first goal for the Reds.
Fernandes showed great vision to pick out Mata who cut the ball back from the right for Ighalo to fire home from five yards.
Ighalo almost scored a second barely one minute later when, after a shot on the turn, he forced a fine save from Mignolet low to his right.
It was 3-0 in the 41st minute when Fred cut the ball back for McTominay to fire home a low drive from just outside the penalty area.
United, with the game won in the opening 45 minutes, made a change for the restart as James made way for Tahith Chong.
The second half lacked the intensity of the first as United didn’t need to go full out while it was damage limitation for Brugge.
The popular Fernandes was replaced by Jesse Lingard midway through the second period, United’s second change and he was soon followed by Greenwood coming on for McTominay who is only just returning from injury.
United made it 4-0 with eight minutes left when Lingard burst free on the left before cutting the ball back to Fred to slot home from 11 yard into an empty net.
It was so nearly five after Greenwood broke on the right and teed up Lingard whose shot was well kept out by Mignolet and also when Chong and Greenwood both fired agonisingly wide.
The fifth goal finally arrived in the third of three added minutes when Chong squared a pass for Fred to fire home from 20 yards, the icing on a comprehensive victory.