Match ends, Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0.
Man UtdManchester United1FC AstanaFC Astana0
Teenager Mason Greenwood's first senior goal ensured Manchester United made a winning start to their Europa League campaign against Astana at Old Trafford.
On a night the 17-year-old will never forget and with the visitors from Kazakhstan threatening to hold out for a draw, Greenwood produced a clever finish in front of the Stretford End to become United's youngest scorer in Europe.
Earlier, Brazil midfielder Fred hit the bar from 25 yards before forcing a fine save from a free-kick, while England forward Marcus Rashford wasted a string of chances against the European minnows, who did not register a shot on target.
But frustration turned to celebration when Greenwood, who has been at United since the age of six, popped up with the winner.
- English youngsters make their mark in Europe - who are Saka and Greenwood?
- Reaction from Thursday's Europa League games
Even after his goal, a much-changed United continued to waste chances.
Diogo Dalot blazed over from close range after Nenad Eric had kept out substitute Jesse Lingard's thunderous attempt.
In the other game in the Group L, Partizan Belgrade drew 2-2 with AZ Alkmaar.
Greenwood takes his chance
It was a far from perfect return to the Europa League stage for United on their first appearance in the competition since goals by Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan defeated Ajax in the 2017 final in Stockholm.
United, of course, would rather be competing with Europe's elite in the Champions League but the Europa League at least offers manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the chance to give some of his younger players experience of a European night under the Old Trafford lights.
Against the five-time Kazakhstan Premier League champions, United fielded their youngest side for a European game since December 2012.
Greenwood was one of six players aged 21 or under who started.
Having grown up in United's academy, the Bradford-born forward had already given United fans a glimpse of his talent during pre-season when he scored against Leeds in Australia.
In the heat of a competitive European game, he showed tremendous maturity as he cut the ball back on to his right foot after holding off an opponent before dispatching a low shot through the keeper's legs.
United fail to sparkle despite win
Greenwood's goal was the highlight on an otherwise scrappy night for United, who were far from convincing against a team that had come through qualifying to make the group stage.
Rashford, one of two survivors from the side that started last weekend's win over Leicester, wasted enough chances to have walked away with the match ball.
At the other end, Astana were worryingly able to get behind United's defence on more than one occasion.
Axel Tuanzebe partnered Phil Jones in the centre of the backline and, with the game goalless, the visitors should have taken the lead when Marin Tomasov found space to float a cross to the back post which went unpunished.
Man of the Match - Mason Greenwood
'We made it hard for ourselves' - what they said
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "Games like these, you want to make sure you win the game in the first 20 minutes and you can enjoy it.
"We made it hard for ourselves.
"You could see some of our lads needed games but it's pleasing we got the three points."
On Mason Greenwood scoring: "We always know that in and around the box he is one of the best finishers we have got. We wouldn't throw them in if they weren't ready."
Teenage kicks - the stats
- United handed starts to three teenagers - Greenwood, Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes - their most in a Europa League/Champions League game since November 2009.
- United are unbeaten in their last 12 games in the Europa League, keeping eight clean sheets in this run.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team have recorded back-to-back wins in all competitions for the first time since March 2019.
What's next?
United head for London this weekend for a match against West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday (14:00 BST) while their next Europa League group game is in the Netherlands against AZ Alkmaar on 3 October (17:55 BST).
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Romero
- 20Dalot
- 38Tuanzebe
- 4Jones
- 16RojoSubstituted forYoungat 78'minutes
- 17FredBooked at 85mins
- 31Matic
- 26Greenwood
- 28GomesSubstituted forMataat 68'minutes
- 44ChongSubstituted forLingardat 68'minutes
- 10Rashford
Substitutes
- 5Maguire
- 8Mata
- 13Grant
- 14Lingard
- 18Young
- 37Garner
- 39McTominay
FC Astana
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Eric
- 2Rukavina
- 44Postnikov
- 6Tomasevic
- 77Shomko
- 18Maevski
- 14Tomasov
- 10Sigurjonsson
- 24SimunovicSubstituted forLogvinenkoat 45'minutes
- 9RotariuSubstituted forMubeleat 82'minutes
- 45MurtazayevSubstituted forJangaat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Muzhikov
- 15Beysebekov
- 19Mubele
- 27Logvinenko
- 28Pertsukh
- 32Janga
- 35Mokin
- Referee:
- François Letexier
- Attendance:
- 50,783
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamFC Astana
- Possession
- Home75%
- Away25%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away0
- Corners
- Home13
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0.
Post update
Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Rangelo Janga (FC Astana).
Post update
Attempt saved. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mason Greenwood.
Booking
Fred (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Zarko Tomasevic.
Substitution
Substitution, FC Astana. Firmin Ndombe Mubele replaces Dorin Rotariu.
Post update
Axel Tuanzebe (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Rangelo Janga (FC Astana).
Post update
Attempt missed. Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ashley Young.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Ashley Young replaces Marcos Rojo.
Post update
Axel Tuanzebe (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Rangelo Janga (FC Astana).
Post update
Attempt missed. Marcos Rojo (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Juan Mata.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fred.
Post update
Attempt missed. Dorin Rotariu (FC Astana) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Juan Mata replaces Angel Gomes.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Tahith Chong.
Comments
Join the conversation
I remember Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney playing as teenagers in the League Cup & we lost to clubs like Southend & Coventry. The Class of 92 kids knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Torpedo Moscow.
You blood kids, they get better.
Better luck next time Astana.
Up next a tough match against FC Garden Shed.
Simple truths are wasted on them
They lost their games, so they have to slag United off even when they win!
Promising from the youngsters
I'm happy
Their comments are just irrelevant
United lose - “Haha what a joke of a club”
United draw - “Haha can’t get past average Europa league opposition”
United win - “Haha United celebrating against sub par opponents”
Snore off. I’m happy with the result and particularly for Greenwood!
Congratulations Man Utd on scraping a 1-0 victory at home in the Europa League vs. a club that was founded in 2009.
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Same year Man City were founded!
Lots of empty seats at glory hunters utd fc
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23,500 more at OT than City on Weds in the CL.
Why does it always have to be vitriolic on football HYS, the beautiful game is cheapened and diminished by having vile abusive guttertrash fans. Sport is supposed to be fun, Sport is supposed to bring people together. BBC should close down HYS on all football topics.
The stuff of legend.