MANCHESTER UNITED beat Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 in the Europa League this evening at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the clash for United, who went 1-0 up through Diogo Dalot in the 44th minute.
Marcus Rashford then doubled United’s lead with a cool finish midway through the second half.
Ronaldo then made it THREE to United, capping off a successful return to the side for the Portuguese forward.
- Start time: 8pm
- TV/Live stream: BT Sport 1
- Man Utd XI: De Gea, Martinez, Lindelof, Malacia, Dalot, Eriksen, Casemiro, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Ronaldo, Garnacho
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
That’s all from us
Thank you all for joining SunSport’s coverage of Manchester United vs Sheriff.
Goals from Dalot, Rashford and Ronaldo saw United comfortably run out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford.
They are now seven unbeaten and go into the game against Sociedad next week needing to win by two goals in order to avoid a potential death draw against Champions League drop-outs which could mean a game against Juventus or Barcelona.
But up next United have to deal with the visit of West Ham on Sunday.
We hope you will join us for the coverage of that game.
Good night all and take care.
Ten Hag on confidence ahead of final group game
He added: “We are confident (ahead of final group game).
“It was a crazy penalty in the first game, we have to deal with and that means we have to win with a two-goal difference.”
On Antony sub
Ten Hag added: “No (was the sub down to the spin), it was more or less planned that if we are up then I wanted to see Ronaldo and Rashford close together.
“That was one of the reasons – the dynamic of the right side.
“On the left side I thought Garnacho was playing quite well. He was really intent in his actions really good tempo dribbling so that was good to see so was more of less planned.”
Ten Hag on Ronaldo
On Ronaldo’s goal, Ten Hag said: “It’s great.
“The team creates for him and we know he has the capability to finish.
“He needs a goal to get over a dead point I will say and then he will get more goals.”
More from Ten Hag
On his half-time changes, Ten Hag said: “It was to bring more numbers in (the subs) and to get behind the defending line of the opponent.
“And especially about occupation in the box and that is what we can do better.
“I think the examples are the second and third goal – we were more in the box we occupied the positions and it is what we have to do more to improve.”
Ten Hag quotes
Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Erik ten Hag said: “It was ok (the performance).
“You hope to score in the first half hour and the second just after half-time but I think we deserve that goal and from the set play – perfect.
“Second half we score two more goals – good goals – also with the clean sheet.
“So we give nothing and focus to win.”
“Functional” Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has said he has no problem with Antony’s fancy tricks on one condition: that it is “functional”.
Whether that was why Antony was hooked at half-time is something only Ten Hag will know for certain.
Expected Goals
As expected United dominated the Expected Goals of the game.
And in fact, it appears they dominated so much that Sheriff did not muster any Expected Goals to their performance, with the 69th-minute cross-cum-shot evidently not being registered as a shot at goal.
Man Utd (3.10) 3-0 (0.00) Sheriff
Rashford this year vs last
With his goal tonight Rashford has now overtaken his tally of goals from last season.
He had five goals in 32 games as he returned mid-way through the season from a big injury.
But after a proper pre-season and a new system role for him he appears to look sharp and most certainly knocking on the door for a return to the England set-up.
He has six goals and three assists from 14 games, though three of the games he has played in saw him come off the bench.
Unbeaten in seven
With United now unbeaten in seven games, Rashford reflected: “Yeah, it’s took a lot of hard work and time as well to adapt and change.
“But we’re understanding it more and more now.
“We’re keeping more and more clean sheets and defending better.
“We still need to score more goals going forward but three goals tonight is good for us.”
Rashford one off 100 goals
Rashford is now one off 100 goals for United, and asked whether that played a part in his mind, he said: “Nah, it’s about getting the job done.
“It will be nice when it does happen. You know it will be a great achievement for myself and for my family, but yeah, focus on the next game now.”
On the importance of the final group game: “Yeah (we have the motivation to win) we have to go there and score two goals so we’ll do what we always do; we’ll try and create goals and score goals and also try and defend well.
“It’s going to be a tough game but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
More from Rashford
Asked if the team were frustrated to have not killed the game in the first half, Rashford said: “It’s a mixture between frustration and calmness to keep creating the chances and be clinical and take the chances that you create.
“The fact we scored just before half-time helped.
“We came out in the second half looking for more goals and more spaces and we managed to get some goals.”
Rashford post-match
Speaking to BT Sport after the game Rashford said: “Yeah definitely (happy to win).
“They (Sheriff) set up to defend and play on the counter-attack.
“It took us a while in the first half and we actually got the goal from a set piece and its good to score from set pieces as well so we’re happy with that.
“When we got one nil up the game opened up a little more in the second half and we created a lot more chances and got more goals as well.”
Group outlook
Man United’s win allows them to keep pace with group leaders Real Sociedad.
It means United can still achieve top spot in the group and avoid a risky draw in the Europa League round of 32 against one of the Champions League drop-outs – with some titanic clashes in the frame for those who come second.
However, they must beat Real Sociedad by at least two goals in San Sebastian after their controversial 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
United in comfortable 3-0 win
Goals from Dalot, Rashford and Ronaldo have given United an easy 3-0 victory over Sheriff.
Ronaldo got a goal on his return from exile, but he could have easily had a hat-trick.
Garnacho looked very bright and as given Ten Hag a timely reminder that he can be very useful player to him going forward.
Harry Maguire’s return also provides a boost for United in defence following the loss of Raphael Varane.
Rashford’s header sees him get back among the goals after a five-game drought which will give Gareth Southgate a strong reason to consider him for the World Cup.
FULL TIME: Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff
Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff
90+1. Stupendous save from Koval.
Despite conceding three goals Koval can consider himself to have had a good game.
This time he climbs highest to make an unorthodox save against a Ronaldo header.
Those familiar with Volleyball might see the similarities in the save to that of a block on front of spike at the net.
Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff
90. United are looking for a fourth now as the game heads into injury time.
Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff
88. Van de Beek almost with a dream goal return.
He finds himself free at the back post and is played the ball into the dangerous area where he is situated.
But he is unable to latch onto the cross fully and sees his stretching shot sail wide instead of into the net.
Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff
85. It should be noted that there is audibly division in the ranks among the United fans.
While most fans seemed to cheer the goal and celebrate it, there were some jeers heard from a large portion of the crowd.
The old saying goes that football fans are fickle, but it seems some have not yet forgiven Ronaldo for his actions last week.
Ronaldo finally on the score sheet
81. The Portuguese forward has been begging for that.
He finds some space between two defenders and heads a Rashford cross towards goal.
Koval is able to save it but Ronaldo is first to the rebound and smashes it home.
He then opts for the celebration he did at Everton rather than his signature Siiiiiuuuu.
Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff
GOOOOOALLLLL
RONALDO GETS HIS GOAL AT LAST
Man Utd 2-0 Sheriff
79. Donny van de Beek makes his return to the United pitch by replacing Garnacho.
The Argentine leaves the pitch to a resounding ovation.
Man Utd 2-0 Sheriff
77. Rashford almost grabs his second.
The 24-year-old finds some space on the edge of the area and whips a shot towards the bottom corner.
But Koval is once again able to push the effort away.
The resulting corner is well worked and gives Garnacho a last chance to get a goal, but his effort is too powerful and goes sailing over the bar.
Man Utd 2-0 Sheriff
76. It’s a slower tempo for the time being.
The flow of the game has remained the same with attack continuing to press against defence.
But the tempo seems to have lessened since the second goal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
