Mainoo Shines as Man Utd Moves Forward
Manchester United stayed unbeaten in the Champions League and Europa League group stages. Kobbie Mainoo stole the show with one goal and one assist. United beat FCSB 2-0 in Romania, securing a spot in the Europa League round of 16.
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From Slow Start to Steady Wins
The season started a bit rocky under Erik ten Hag. But things picked up when Ruben Amorim took over. He led the team to five straight wins. By the time United reached Bucharest, they were already through to the knockout stage. Goals from Diogo Dalot and Mainoo in the second half sealed the win, skipping the play-offs.
Unbeaten Group Stage
United finished third in the new 36-team league phase, staying unbeaten in all eight Europa League matches. Amorim noted that avoiding knockouts in February would help. It gives them more time to train.
Mainoo’s Great Game
Mainoo was the standout player at the sold-out Arena Nationala. He assisted Dalot’s opener in the 60th minute with a perfect cross. Just eight minutes later, he scored off a great setup from Alejandro Garnacho to wrap up the win.
Early Jitters and Comeback
The match didn’t start well. Tyrell Malacia got booked early, and FCSB almost scored from a free-kick. United quickly found their rhythm, with Mainoo almost scoring after a clever flick. Christian Eriksen also had a shot saved. A laser pen aimed at the players added to the tension.
Tactical Changes at Half-Time
United controlled most of the game but struggled against FCSB’s tight defense. Amorim made changes at half-time, bringing in Amad Diallo and Garnacho for Collyer and Malacia. Garnacho almost made an impact right away, hitting the post just seconds after the break.
Second-Half Goals and Close Calls
In the second half, United looked more threatening. Bruno Fernandes hit the crossbar in the 59th minute. Then, they took the lead when Eriksen set up Mainoo, who assisted Dalot for an easy goal.
FCSB tried hard, with a strong shot from Birligea hitting the crossbar. But United stood their ground. After regaining possession, Garnacho assisted Mainoo for the second goal.
Late Chances and Ending
United had more chances to score again. Hojlund hit the side-netting, and there was a brief delay due to a pitch invader. United’s defense stayed strong as goalkeeper Altay Bayindir saved a close attempt from Alexandru Baluta. Even though Casemiro, Fernandes, and Matthijs de Ligt had chances, the game ended 2-0, moving United further in the competition.
