Manchester United took control of their Europa League last-16 tie with a resounding first-leg win at LASK, in the front of a crowd of 500 people.
Odion Ighalo’s remarkable goal set United on their way inside a mostly empty Linzer Stadion after the Austrian authorities had constrained the attendance in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The 30-year-old has now scored 4 goals in three starts offevolved United, who are now unbeaten in their last eleven games in all competitions.
However, he will have scored few better, or in a greater surreal environment than the opening goal, with the forward accumulating Bruno Fernandes’ pass by and juggling the ball from right foot to left, before dispatching it into the top left corner, off the underside of the crossbar.
Despite making 5 adjustments to the side that started their Manchester derby victory on Sunday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side appeared assured and fluent throughout.
Juan Mata, Daniel James and Harry Maguire all had probabilities to add to their tally, before James strode on to Ighalo’ second-half pass to force a right foot effort into the backside left corner.
Fred’s incisive pass allowed Mata to roll in a third, whilst substitute’s Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira, delivered a fourth and fifth in injury time.
And it was no more than United deserved for a dominant show that maintained their record of having never lost to Austrian opposition in European competition.
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