LASK 0-5 Manchester United: Ighalo, James, Mata, Greenwood and Pereira all score a big victory
Odion Ighalo has grown in strength since his move to Manchester United was disrupted by the corona virus, so how appropriate was he the man to scam this Europa League match on a quiet, soulless night in Linz.
In a game played behind closed doors due to the pandemic, Ighalo United gave control of the opening goal – and what a goal it was.
The Nigerian striker didn’t have many options when Bruno Fernandes burst forward 28 minutes into the game and hit the ball on the edge of the box.
Manchester United took the lead just before half an hour due to a beautiful strike by Odion Ighalo
Ighalo juggled the ball three times to create some space on the edge of the box before firing half a volley into the top corner
Ighalo juggled it with one, two and then three touches before meeting him on the half volley. The ball flew from his left foot and from the bottom of the crossbar with LASK goalkeeper Alexander Schlager rooted to the spot.
It was United’s fourth youth goal for the club since being signed to Shanghai Shenhua on January deadline on loan.
Ighalo’s arrival from China during the coronavirus outbreak meant he could not join his new teammates in United’s hot weather camp in Marbella or even train in Carrington, which gave more ammunition to critics who have the wisdom of signing a Questioned 30 years of doubt. old former Watford striker from the Chinese Super League.
But there was no doubt about the quality of Ighalo’s strike here, and it deserved a bigger stage and more people to see it.
In Linzer Stadium, there were only 500 in total as part of the Austrian government’s attempt to limit the spread of the virus on an evening when other Europa League games in Seville and Milan were postponed.
Daniel James’ first goal in 33 games and late strikes by Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira confirmed a win by United that puts them firmly on course for the quarterfinals, whether that’s the game or even the match’s return game on Old Trafford next week – playing even after UEFA met to discuss the global crisis on Tuesday is another matter.
The run-up to this one was completely overshadowed by the virus that led the game to be played behind closed doors, doubting whether it would continue at all.
Solskjaer said shortly before kick-off: “We have no contact with UEFA. The team normally prepared for the match knowing it was in the air. The guys are very well focused and they didn’t ask me any question if it is going to happen or not so we are ready. ‘
They certainly were. It was a pity that LASK’s so-called “game of the century” had to be played the night they first appeared in the knockout stages of a European league, but United did professional work.
The Premier League club had agreed to pay £ 350 in compensation for the 700 fans who had bought tickets for them, although some still made the trip even though they couldn’t get in. About a hundred LASK fans were left in the ground and those left outside caused bangs when the teams came out to kick off, adding to the special atmosphere.
After a minute of silence for LASK’s 1965 title winner Heribert Trubrig, we were treated with another 90 of them to an evening that couldn’t be more removed from some of United’s great events in Europe.
Still, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side did the job and both Fred and Scott McTominay shot over the crossbar within 10 minutes.
James came closest to a goal after an excellent pass in the 23rd minute, Mata eventually chose the Wales winger unmarked for the goal. James tried to shoot his shot around Schlager, but the keeper made a difference and saved the ball. From Fernandes’ resulting angle, McTominay should have fared better than head wide.
Maguire did the same before halftime, but United took the win with a second goal in the 57th minute. Ighalo was involved again when he got a pass from Fred and pushed the ball forward for James. He ran to Gernot Trauner and cut the LASK skipper before dropping a shot into Schlager’s right pole to record his first goal since August.
Ighalo was just inches from adding a third five minutes later when Bruno’s excellent slap from McTominay’s pass set him free on target. United’s number 25 stopped Trauner and defeated Schlager, but the ball hit the post.
It was only a temporary delay for the Austrians when Mata struck in the 82nd minute. The Spaniard broke the infield on the right and placed the ball to Fred before running on. The Brazilian chose him with a great pass and Mata took one touch before beating the keeper.
Substitute Mason Greenwood picked up the fourth when Tahith Chong clearly sent him to the right in extra time and defeated teen Schlager on his short post.
If that wasn’t exactly a blunder from the LASK goalkeeper, then United’s fifth was. Andreas Pereira was picked up 30 yards from the goal and picked himself up to take a quick free kick to Fred. Pereira took the ball back and tried his luck from a distance, the ball slipped through Schlager’s grip and into the net.
A great victory here extended United’s unbeaten streak to 11 games, including eight wins and nine clean sheets. Whether it expands their engagement with Europe this season remains to be seen.
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