◤UEFA Europa League◢ Scott McTominay strikes at the dearth to help Manchester United breaks down resilient Omonoia with a late 1-0 win..

2022-10-14 15:12

◤UEFA Europa League◢ Scott McTominay strikes at the dearth to help Manchester United breaks down resilient Omonoia with a late 1-0 win..



Manchester United had to wait until the last moment to kill the game off with a late 1-0 win over Omonoia in the matchday 4 of the 2022/23 season UEFA Europa League Group E Group Stage match at Old Trafford on Thursday.


In the first half, Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo repeatedly shot had their attempts rescued by Uzoho. Casemiro shot from a long shot and hit the crossbar, and then Fernandes' long-range effort and Fred's header cannoned off the pitch. When Omoniia finally got their one and only decisive offensive opportunity, Sousa missed the good opportunity to punish their opponents due to his selfishness. In the second half, Antony, Ronaldo, Rashford, and Fred encounterted an even resilient Uzoho as they repeatedly tried and failed to beat the latter. It was only until the injury time, that McTominay finally ripped off the script by scoring. In the end, Manchester United left it late to beat Omonoia with a 1-0 victory. The Premier League leaders successfully advanced to the Round-of-16 having accumulated 9 points in second placed; Omonoia, who was winless however, was still rooted to the bottom.



First Half


In the 2nd minute, Manchester United got a corner kick. Bruno Fernandes took the tactical corner. After receiving the former's pass and adjusted his angle, Marcus Rashford shot with his right foot on the left side of the penalty area, but his shot was palmed off the upper right crossbar by Francis Uzoho who had to make a flying save.


7 minutes later, Rashford made a straight pass from the front. After Cristiano Ronaldo quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps, he struck with his left foot from a very close distance at the left side of the penalty area, however his shot only ended up as sidenetting which breezed off the left post. In the 22nd minute, Fernandes passed on the front, Rashford quickly followed up, got the ball and shot with his left foot on the left side of the penalty area, but his shot was parried away by Uzoho who had to got down.


3 minutes later, Diogo Dalot made a horizontal pass from the right, Fernandes quickly followed up, got the ball, took a few steps and then shot with his right foot from the outside the penalty area, but his shot is just slightly wide off the right post. In the 28th minute, Tyrell Malacia made a horizontal pass from the left, Rashford got the ball, cut inside, took a few steps and then made a long-range right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, however his attempt was saved out for a corner by Uzoho who dived to the bottom right corner.


Four minutes later, Dalot passed horizontally from the right side of the penalty area. After Ronaldo stopped the ball, he turned and shot with his left foot at the outside of the penalty area, but his shot was just slightly off the left post.


Soon after, Rashford made a horizontal pass from the front, Casemiro quickly followed up, got the ball, adjusted his angle before unleashing a right-footed long range shot from 25 yards outside the penalty area, however his shot unfortunately hit the crossbar and deflected off for a corner. Manchester United nearly succeed in breaking the deadlock first!


Manchester United came again right after that. Fred passed horizontally from the front, After receiving the pass and adjusted his angle, Bruno Fernandes made a long-range right-footed shot from the outside the penalty area, but his effort flew high out of the pitch.


In the 34th minute, Antony crossed into the penalty area from the right, the unmarked Fred quickly followed up, rose high and attempted a header in the center of the penalty area, however his effort flew high out of the pitch.


8 minutes later, Omonoia made a fast counterattack, Chambos made a through pass from the left. after successfully beating the offside trap and quickly followed up, Bruno Sousa got the ball, dribbled into the left side of the penalty area, but instead of passing it to teammate Andronikos Kakoullis who was in a better postition in front of the empty net, the former chose to shoot with his right foot in front of David De Gea, as such his shot flew high out of the pitch. Omonoia lost the golden opportunity to punish Manchester United all because of Sousa's selfishness!


In the 45th minute, Manchester United got a free kick. Fernandes took the free kick and crossed it into the penalty area, Casemiro jumped high in the center of the penalty area and attempted a header, but his effort slightly just missed the left post.


At the end of the first half, Omonoia, who managed to survive from the onslaught, temporarily entered halftime keeping their cleansheet in-tact against the misfiring Manchester United.



Second Half


Both teams switched sides as game continued. In the 46th minute, Ronaldo passed horizontally from the front, Antony quickly followed up, got the ball and then strucked with his left foot after stopping the ball in the center of the penalty area, the latter's shot was initially parried not far away by Uzoho who dived to the bottom left corner, after picking up the loose ball, Rashford shot on the left side of the penalty area, but his effort was again being held onto by Uzoho at the bottom left corner.


Two minutes later, Fernandes made a horizontal pass the front, Fred quickly followed up, got the ball and then struck with his left foot in the center of the penalty area, his shot was initially parried not far away by Uzoho who got down, upon picking the loose ball, Cristiano Ronaldo made another left-footed shot at a very close distace from left of the penalty area, however his attempt was confiscated by Uzoho at the bottom left corner.


In the 59th minute, Casemiro made a through pass from the front, after beating the offside trap successfully, Rasford quickly followed up, got the ball, dribbled into the center of the penalty area and volleyed with his right foot, but his attempt was saved yet again by the outrushing Uzoho who dived to the bottom right corner. In the 70th minute, Rashford passed horizontally from the left side of the penalty area, Ronaldo quickly followed up, got the ball, took a few steps and volleyed with his left foot on the left side of the penalty area, however his shot was parried out for a corner by Uzoho who dived to the bottom left corner.


In the 82nd minute, Fernandes passed horizontally from the front, Scott McTominay quickly got up and fired a long-range right-footed shot from outside the penalty area after receiving the pass, but yet again the latter's attempt was saved by Francis Uzoho who dived to the bottom right corner.


In the 3rd minute of the stoppage time, Jadon Sancho made a horizontal pass from the left side of the penalty area. Scott McTominay quickly followed up and pushed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net with his right foot at the center of the penalty area. Uzoho's resilence at the last line of defence is finally broken. Manchester United at last managed to locked their victory at 1-0!


As the final whistle is blown, Manchester United defeat Omonoia with a late 1-0 win, and the Cypriot First Division side could still be proud of themselves, due to the heroics of Uzoho who had to make 12 saves across the entire game despite of the loss.