Manchester United 4, Club Brugge 0 (UEFA Europa League Round of 32, Man Utd win 5-1 on aggregate)
Goals by Bruno Fernandes, Odion Ighalo, Scott McTominay, and a second half Fred double gave Manchester United an easy night against 10-man Club Brugge as they won their Europa League tie 5-1 on aggregate.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt took barely 20 minutes for Club Brugge to go from ten men down to 3-0 down after Manchester United effectively ended their UEFA Europa League tie by half time at Old Trafford.
And a late Fred double capped a fine performance for a United side missing the firepower of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Simon Deli was sent off for a blatant attempt to save Daniel James’ curling strike on goal with his hand.
Deli remarkably half expected a reprieve after VAR recommended referee Serdar Gozubuyuk review his own decision and took three minutes to uphold the obvious deliberate attempt to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
Bruno Fernandes sent Simon Mignolet the wrong way with another trick penalty after the lengthy VAR delay.
But United fans didn’t have to wait long for more goals as Odion Ighalo had a 5-yard tap-in in the 34th minute following a Juan Mata cut back after Fernandes once again pulled the strings from midfield.
Fred cut the ball back for Scott McTominay to celebrate his return to fitness with a 41st 20 yard low drive which left the ex-Liverpool ‘keeper stranded.
The second half was a victory lap for United, with James, Fernandes, and McTominay all rested ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton and the Reds noticeably dropping down a gear while the Stretford End booed Mignolet.
It was almost a surprise when Fred was unmarked to slot in United’s fourth from 11 yards out with 8 minutes to go after the much maligned Jesse Lingard cut the ball back from the left after Shaw had won the ball.
There was little else for the 3,600 travelling Brugge fans to do but sing Liverpool anthems and taunt the home support about their rivals who will soon be lifting the Premier League title.
Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood both shot wide in the dying minutes as United almost scored again but it was Fred that put the icing on the United cake as the Reds won a European game by five goals for the first time since November 2013 against Bayer Leverkusen.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 5, Club Brugge 0 (UEFA Europa League Round of 32, Man Utd win 6-1 on aggregate)
Sergio Romero: 6. Parry out to Mats Rits could have left him in trouble but the Brugge player overhit the return ball. Had a hairy moment under pressure from substitute Krepin Diatta
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6. Better going forward.
Harry Maguire: 7. More effective going forward after forgettable start, almost letting in Daniel Okereke, but was more commanding after United built up the lead.
Eric Bailly: 6. Early slip in defence, but was cruising later.
Luke Shaw: 7. Another strong performance at left back, could have scored in the second half too.
Scott McTominay: 8. Inching back to fitness and slammed a goal past a demoralised Brugge.
Fred: 8. Great early cross set up Juan Mata for a shot, he set up Scott McTominay later with a quick cut back. Scored twice late on as the visitors tired and spaces opened up.
Daniel James: 7. Not afraid to get stuck in and two early great chances, one of which was saved acrobatically by Simon Deli – but not Simon Mignolet – earning the Brugge defender a red card for handball.
Bruno Fernandes: 8. Long range shot came tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and that wasn’t his only effort. He started the move that ended with Odion Ighalo’s goal
Juan Mata: 7. Early shot saved. Always wanted the ball and laid on Odion Ighalo’s first goal for the club.
Odion Ighalo: 7. Celebrated his full debut for United with a tap in from 5 yards. Held up the ball well and had another shot saved by Mignolet as his confidence grew.
Tahith Chong (on for Daniel James, 46): 6. Didn’t always make the right decision and got clattered hard by the knee of Simon Mignolet in his chest. Late assist for Fred’s second goal was one of the few things he got right.
Jesse Lingard (on for Bruno Fernandes, 65): 6. On to give Fernandes a rest but was booed on by a section of United fans. Managed to set up Fred as spaces opened up.
Mason Greenwood (on for Scott McTominay, 72): 6. Extra attacking threat after replacing Scott McTominay
GOALS – Manchester United 5, Club Brugge 0 (UEFA Europa League Round of 32, Man Utd win 6-1 on aggregate)
Man Utd 1, Club Brugge 0: 27. Bruno Fernandes scored again from the penalty spot, sending Simon Mignolet the wrong way as he tucked the spot kick into the bottom left corner after the referee checked VAR for what seemed a blatant handball by Simon Deli as Daniel James’ curling strike looked goalbound.
Man Utd 2, Club Brugge 0: 34. Odion Ighalo opened his Man Utd account from 5 yards out after slotting home Juan Mata’s cutback following Bruno Fernandes perfectly timed chip forward.
Man Utd 3, Club Brugge 0: 41, Scott McTominay’s straight drive from 20 yards left Simon Mignolet standing after Fred’s quick cut back allowed the midfielder to pick his spot.
Man Utd 4, Club Brugge 0: 82. Fred slotted in from 11 yards after Luke Shaw won the ball and found Jesse Lingard who strode into the area before cutting it back for the Brazilian to have an easy tap-in.
Man Utd 5, Club Brugge 0: 90+3. Fred fired in a low drive from 20 yards after a cutback by Tahith Chong
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 5, Club Brugge 0 (UEFA Europa League Round of 32, Man Utd win 6-1 on aggregate)
Man Utd: Romero, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Bailly, Shaw, McTominay (Greenwood 72), Fred, James (Lingard 46), Fernandes (Lingard 65), Mata, Ighalo
Man Utd subs not used: De Gea, Lindelof, Matic, Williams
Goals: Fernandes pen 27, Ighalo 34, McTominay 41; Fred 82, 90+3
Club Brugge: Mignolet, Mata (Mitrovic 62), Mechele, Deli, Ricca, Kossounou, Vanaken, Rits (De Ketelaere 79), Tau (Diatta 61), Okereke, De Cuyper
Club Brugge subs not used: Horvath, Sobol, Krmencik, Schrijvers,
Referee: Serder Gozubuyuk (NED)