Amad Diallo scored both goals as Manchester United picked up their first UEFA Europa League win of the season, beating PAOK 2-0 at Old Trafford.
The win continued a string of encouraging performances under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who embraced his two-goal hero as the youngster left the field as a substitute in the second half.
Amad opened the scoring shortly after the break with a back-post header that he directed into the far corner, and he made the game safe with an excellent second goal.
It was Amad himself who won the ball back, pressing the PAOK defender, and his curling shot from outside the box picked out the bottom corner, aided by a slight deflection.
Victory in Van Nistelrooy’s penultimate game in charge puts United on six points after four matches in the Europa League, lifting The Red Devils up to 15th in the table.
Talking point – Another plus for Ruud van Nistelrooy
United’s interim manager enjoyed another decent night, doing what Erik ten Hag could not and steering the club to a victory in the Europa League this season.
His initial selection of a double pivot in midfield ensured that the team had decent control even in a first half that lacked spark, and he added experience just at the right point after the break when his team’s grip was beginning to loosen.
Whether he remains in place under the new regime remains to be seen, but he’s had a positive few weeks.
Player of the match – Amad Diallo
On a night that was crying out for moments of inspiration for much of it, the lively Amad Diallo stood out. Both goals were expertly finished, and he was the standout threat throughout.
Only a superb clearance denied him a first-half opener, as he made one of countless support runs to the back post. His threat on the ball and his effort off it will have been noted by Ruben Amorim, who has decisions to make about which attacking players to fit into his preferred shape.
Player ratings
Man Utd: Onana 7; Dalot 5, Lindelof 6, Evans 6, Mazraoui 7; Ugarte 6, Casemiro 7; Amad 8, Fernandes 8, Garnacho 7; Hojlund 5. Subs: Rashford 7, Eriksen 6, Martinez 6, Mount 6, Zirkzee 6.
PAOK: Kotarski 6; Jonny 6, Kedziora 7, Colley 7, Baba 7; Schwab 6, Ozdoyev 6; Zivkovic 7, Camara 7, Taison 6; Tissoudali 5. Subs: Chalov 7, Bakayoko 6, Shoretire 6
Match highlights
50′ – GOAL! MAN UTD 1-0 PAOK (AMAD): He was one of the liveliest players in the first half and Amad puts United 1-0 up, drifting on to a lovely cross from Fernandes and looping a lovely header back across goal and picking out the far corner. Was he looking to assist an onrushing teammate? It doesn’t matter, the goal is his. 1-0.
77′ – GOAL! MAN UTD 2-0 PAOK (AMAD): Manchester United’s young winger wins the ball high, cuts inside and lines up a curling shot with his left foot. It takes a deflection which helps it further out of the keeper’s reach, and the ball nestles in the bottom corner. 2-0.
Key stats
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