Manchester United scaled through to the Europa League quarter-finals courtesy of the lone strike from Spanish forward Juan Mata who was assisted by star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 70th minutes of the match.
It was a goal that was enough to book United’s place in the knockout (quarter-finals) stages of the Europa League after the first leg between both sides ended 1-1 in Russia, Rostov.
With the Red Devils slim win after 90 minutes of football Mourinho’s side will take on Belgian giants Anderlecht who won 1-0 courtesy of Frank Acheampong’s strike in the game against Apoel Nicosia.
On this note United march on to the quarter-finals as the favourite to win the Europa League following a 2-1 aggregate win as we take a look at some match statistics from the game.
FULL STATISTICS
SHOTS ON TARGET
4 (MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV) 4
The host and the visiting FC Rostov side competed effectively on the number of shots on target as they drew saves from the goalkeeper. The likes of Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba threatened the opposing goal as the two teams went in search of goals in the game.
Mourinho’s side will be content with his side as one of United’s attempt on goal was turned in by Spanish forward Juan Mata inside the six yard box for the only goal of the game.
SHOTS OFF TARGET
9(MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV)
The visiting side had just one shot off target in the entire match as compared to United’s 9 shots off target in total from the game. It was evident as United exhibited strong attacking dominance down the opposing area in the game.
The Veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic was flanked by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata who were really creative on the night as they pegged back the opposing side in transition to force more chances of which some were off target in the game.
POSSESSION (%)
69(MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV) 31
The host were in control of the game as they showed the class and dexterity they got in midfield as Players like Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba was too good for FC Rostov in the game.
The combo of Mata and Valencia on the right added more fluid and dynamism to the home side as they coordinated well in the middle to nail the visitors in transition going forward in the game.
CORNERS
6(MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV) 2
The home side recorded more corner-kick in the game, 4 more than FC Rostov who had 2 corner-kicks in the match.
United were resilient in the attacking section of the game as they recorded 6 corner-kicks in the game as the host was forced in defending their goal post in the match. Mourinho’s men reaped their rewards as the pressure paid off in the 70th minute as Juan Mata put United ahead in the game.
OFFSIDES
4(MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV) 0
The United’s attack was threatening the goal area of FC Rostov as this saw the Red Devils caught offside on 4 different occasions.
The trio of Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and center forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic led United’s attack in the game in search of goals as United’s forward line was caught in behind the Russian defence line.
FOULS
8(MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV) 11
It was a high tense game as both sides contested physically to amass a total of 19 fouls in the game.
The Red Devils had 8 fouls in the match which is 3 less than what the visitors had in the game, 11 in total as they tried to stifle the ball away from the home side who had 69% of the possession to the visitors 31% of the ball in the game.
YELLOW CARDS
0(MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV) 1
The visitors (FC Rostov) produced the only yellow card of the game as the match official attempted to moderate the game to a considerable extent. FC Rostov Aleksandr Bukharov was booked in the 87th minutes of the game as United sealed a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
GOAL-KICK
2(MANCHESTER UNITED) (FC ROSTOV) 12
United had just 2 goal-kick in behind their defence as compared to 12 goal kick which was recorded by their visitors.
This is an indication as to where the pressure was tending during the game as United’s attacking prowess down the opposing goal was enough to produce more goal kick behind the visitor’s goal on 12 occasions in the game.
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