MASON GREENWOOD gave Manchester United fans another glimpse of his undoubted talent with an incredible second-half performance at Old Trafford.
After a dreary first period Greenwood brought the famous ground to life with two goals as well as winning a penalty.
Man Utd striker Mason Greenwood celebrates his quickfire double with fellow 18-year-old James GarnerCredit: Getty – Contributor
Wayne Rooney is a Man Utd legend who Mason Greenwood could emulate, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believesCredit: Getty – Contributor
England Under-21 frontman Mason Greenwood completes Man Utd’s 4-0 rout pf AZ Alkmaar with his second goalCredit: Getty – Contributor
Having been outplayed in the first period by their Dutch opponents Manchester United tore them to pieces in the second with four goals in 11 minutes.
Greenwood, 18, was the star performer.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he is the best finisher in the club and such lofty praise sits easily on the youngster’s shoulders.
He looks like a player who knows how good he is.
Solskjaer said: “He is different class as a finisher. In and around the box you expect him to get a shot off on target.
“He’s so precise in his finishing and good at creating spaces for himself, right foot, left foot it doesn’t matter.
“He is a nightmare for defenders. He just needs to develop his heading then he will be a proper striker.
‘NIGHTMARE FOR DEFENDERS’
“I’ve seen a few good ones, I played with Wayne Rooney.
“But for natural finishing he’s one of the best I’ve seen.”
Solskjaer wants to protect him and limit his match time at the moment, but his performances are demanding more.
This win secured top spot for United in Group L of the Europa League and they are now favourites to repeat their success of three seasons ago and win the whole thing.
The form they are in right now it is most definitely worth a flutter.
United are thrilling to watch once more.
Not in the first half last night but most certainly in the second.
When you consider that AZ are the second best team in Holland right now and came with a record of 17 clean sheets from their first 25 games in all competitions this was some result.
There is something clinical about United’s play at the moment.
They may have had only 30 per cent of the possession in the derby on Saturday but every time they had the ball going forward they looked a threat to Manchester City on their way to a 2-1 win.
Credit Andreas Pereira first of all who was stuck next to the corner flag when he did a clever turn and flick to rid himself of his man.
He exchanged passes with Juan Mata before the ball went back to Nemanja Matic.
It was a fabulous slick passing move that lead to United’s opener in the 53 rd minute from Ashley Young.
He made his first telling contribution of the night with a pass into the area for Mata who was available again.
The Spaniard calmly rolled the ball across the six yard box and from a very acute angle Young blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
Five minutes later it was two as Greenwood struck.
Alkmaar claimed there was a foul in the build up as James Garner jumped in on Fredrik Midstjo but the referee thought otherwise.
The ball broke to Greenwood who did not need a second invitation as he shot straight away from outside the area into the bottom corner.
Greenwood was in the zone. He was unstoppable, unless you brought him down of course.
In the 62nd minute that’s exactly what Jordy Classie did as United were awarded penalty which Mata converted.
It is Greenwood’s incredible ability with both feet that sets him apart and affords him so many chances.
He can switch from one to the other to give himself that vital bit of space to get a shot away.
Defenders don’t know which way to turn. There is no point forcing him to one side because he can just go the other way and be equally as clinical.
He showed this again for his second goal on 64 minutes.
Mata was again at the centre of things receiving a pass from Matic and finding the young forward who moved the ball with his right on to his left to give himself space before firing into the near bottom corner.
Job well and truly done.
A third win in a row in what has been an incredible nine day spell for the club that has completely turned their season around.
Man Utd are seeded for the Europa League draw after Mason Greenwood masterclass makes easy work of AZ Alkmaar
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
