OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER’S five-star stunners got loud with the sensational victory that booked them a place in the Europa League’s last eight.
There may have been silence all around the Manchester United boss’s players.
Odion Ighalo scored the pick of the bunch with a stunning volley as Man Utd run riotCredit: AFP or licensors
But this was as loud a statement as possible that the Norwegian’s men are on a mission to turn his first full season into a silverwear success.
And if anyone filled the void for him it was Odion Ighalo who smashed home a brilliant opener.
Daniel James scored the second with his first goal in 33 games before Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira completed the lockout LASK.
It may yet be that United won’t even get to play in the next round with the Coronavirus pandemic.
What is not in doubt is that Ighalo’s goal was worthy of a far greater audience than the smattering of people there to witness it in person.
He produced a sensational two-footed juggling act before completing his act with a piledriver.
What is more the big frontman, in the long – term absence of Marcus Rashford and last night Anthony Martial due to leg cuts, is really taking up lost space.
The Europa League anthem was played – as usual – after the LASK announcer really got into his job as he shouted out the names of the home team over the tannoy.
And moments before kick-off over 20 ball boys completed the traditional shake of the competition’s giant centre circle banner.
Daniel James scored his first goal since August – a run of 32 matchesCredit: Reuters
A few moments silence were held to mark the passing a few days earlier of the home club’s former player Herbert Trubrig.
There were even fireworks let off – from outside – to greet the teams as they made their way into the pitch.
And a cluster of United fans erupted, briefly, with their usual chants of support.
Around 150 spectators were in attendance in the posh seats – friends and relatives of the Austrian side’s players, allowed in with the town’s dignitaries and club staff and officials.
They did their bit to try to make things normal.
‘Smug’ Solskjaer beams after Ighalo scores sensational goal in Europa League clash at LASK
But for everybody in the Linzer Stadium this was anything but a normal experience.
LASK boss Valerien Ismael had deemed the last 16 tie his club’s match of the century.
It was more than that for United.
Never in the club’s 142-year history had they played a competitive match behind closed doors.
But Solskjaer had promised that no matter the bizarre circumstances his team would focus on trying to get the job done.
He also picked a team to back up his promise – a strong side that included instant icon Bruno Fernandes with Scott McTominay and Fred on lockout duties of their own in front of the back four.
Juan Mata scored Manchester United’s third of the nightCredit: Handout – Getty
They nearly went ahead in the 23rd minute thanks to a fine move involving McTominay, Fred and Juan Mata before James forced Alexander Schlager into an alert parry.
Five minutes later the goalkeeper was picking the ball out of the net anyway.
The opener was down only to Ighalo’s brilliant finish.
But also to another illustration of why Fernandes has become fabulous for United.
January’s £68M arrival from Sporting Lisbon would have had every one of the 900 supporters who had travelled in vain out of their seats had they been inside the ground.
He blasted through the home defence on a 30 – yard run before touching to Ighalo.
The striker then did a bit of dazzling himself as he flicked right, left and right again before smashing a half – volley with his left foot into the top corner.
The irony of the Nigerian’s rocket was that soon after the start of the Coronavirus pandemic he had to train away from his new teammates following his loan arrival in January from Shanghai Shenua.
But he was hardly in isolation after grabbing the fourth goal of a stay that may well be turned into a full – time stay of he keeps up his current form.
Mason Greenwood further showed his potential with another goalCredit: Handout – Getty
He was rightly mobbed by his teammates who – as McTominay had promised – would be fully focussed even if there was no big-match atmosphere.
There was more proof of that in the 58th minute as James collected his first goal in 33 games as once more Ighalo showed how well he has settled into the side.
His run was virtually unchallenged as he powered through the LASK midfield but he read James’ movement perfectly.
The winger collected the pass then cut inside of skipper Gernot Trauner before passing the ball into the bottom corner with his right foot.
Ighalo was desperately unlucky not to double his tally as once more the Austrians were cut open.
McTominay found Fernandes who controlled with effortless style before touching on for the frontman who saw his shot roll wide of Schlager but hit the foot of a post.
Yet a collapse by the Austrian Bundesliga leaders still followed.
Mata, Greenwood and finally Periera all piled in and even if there was no atmosphere, they and their teammates were all buzzing by the end.
Sir Alex Ferguson arrives at Man Utd training as stars head in after celebrating derby win over City
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
