man utd vs sabah: United win 4-0 in Champions League
Manchester United opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win over Sabah FK at Old Trafford, with goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin…
MAN UTD vs SABAH ended in a 4-0 win for Manchester United at Old Trafford as Michael Carrick’s side opened their Champions League campaign with a comfortable home victory. It was United’s 300th match at Europe’s top table, and their first on this stage for 1,003 days.
The result gave United a calm start after a mixed run in the season. Sabah FK, the champions of Azerbaijan, had one big opening to level the match before the hosts pulled away with four goals.
United make the early pressure count
United started quickly, with Matheus Cunha forcing an early stop and Noussair Mazraoui hitting the side-netting. Sabah spent long spells pinned back, and at times the match looked like attack versus defence.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute. Patrick Dorgu, playing at left back in Luke Shaw’s absence, sent in a first-time cross that Cunha met from close range to make it 1-0.
Sabah almost hit back in a big moment. Kaheem Parris won the ball in United’s half and clipped a cross to Joy-Lance Mickels, who headed into the side-netting from close range. It was a clear chance, and one the visitors failed to take.
Fernandes, Sesko and Martinez finish the job
United made Sabah pay before the break. Bruno Fernandes scored next, and Benjamin Sesko quickly added a third as the home side turned control into goals.
Lisandro Martinez then added the fourth from close range after Carrick made changes with Sunday’s Premier League match against Manchester City in mind. United had already done the hard work by then. The rest was control.
Sabah, who this week celebrated their ninth birthday, could not keep up once United found rhythm through the middle. Carrick said after the match that his team had to work for it, even if the scoreline looked easy in the end.
“It's nice to keep a clean sheet and obviously win the game,” Carrick told TNT Sports. “Some of the football we played was really good, dangerous on transition. I have to give them a lot of credit, they were difficult to play against. The result looks comfortable, it wasn't always like that.”
He also pointed to the work done by Kobbie Mainoo and the growing links in midfield. “He's a fantastic player, it's pretty obvious to see. He has a massive influence on our games,” Carrick said of Mainoo. “We've got really good players. It's nice to get Mason [Mount] and Andrey [Santos]. There are some good connections and we have played some good football through the middle of the pitch.”
Sesko said the win meant a lot to United’s fans and could lift the squad heading into the next run of fixtures. “I think it was perfect for everyone, especially our fans,” he said. “It means a lot to them, especially when they see so many goals.”
The bigger picture is straightforward. United are back in the Champions League, back in front of their own crowd, and back to winning with some authority. The next test comes fast, with Sunday’s Premier League derby against Manchester City waiting after a night that ended with four goals and a clean sheet.
