Omonia Nicosia 2 United 3
Manchester United came from behind to beat Onomia Nicosia 3-2 in our latest Group E Europa League clash.
The Reds dominated the game, but it was the hosts who took the lead in the first half. Bruno Felipe led the counterattack before Karim Ansarifard finished off the move to open the scoring.
Erik ten Hag called on his bench in the second half, with the introduction of both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial changing the game.
The attacking duo both found the net in the second 45, with Rashford levelling the scores before Martial put the Reds ahead. Rashford completed his brace minutes before the end, despite a late goal from Panayiotou to keep Omonia in it.
At the heart of the action was Cristiano Ronaldo, who saw his low effort saved well by Fabiano in the Omonia goal. Our no.7 also linked up well with Bruno Fernandes and Antony to set up the skipper, who saw his effort bounce off the bar.
Antony came close to finding the net with an effort reminiscent of his goal against Man City at the weekend, but the top corner-bound shot was parried away by the keeper.
Just after the half-hour mark, completely against the run of play, the hosts took the lead. A counterattack lead by the charging run of Bruno saw him play in Ansarifard, whose effort was thumped beyond David De Gea at his near post.
Despite plenty of chances to make an impact, the Reds went in at half-time a goal down with plenty to do in the second period. And that began with a double substitution that saw Rashford and Luke Shaw enter the fray.
Our no.10 made an almost immediate impact, grabbing an equaliser eight minutes after the restart. Fernandes found Rashford with a remarkable pass from inside his own half - the chance almost looked as though it had run away from him, but he retained possession and curled the ball into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Fabiano.
Ten minutes later, just moments after his introduction, Martial completed the comeback for United. Martinez stepped up from defence to pass into Rashford, whose first time flick found Martial, who was quick to unleash an effort that nestled into the bottom corner at Fabiano's near-post.
Ronaldo had a handful of opportunities to increase our lead, the closest of which saw him denied by the post after Diogo Dalot did particularly well to create the chance for his fellow countryman.
Rashford added further to the Reds' lead, getting his second of the night with six minutes to go. He swapped passes with Ronaldo whose low and hard drive into the box was met by Rashford at the back post who tapped home.
A nervous finish was on the cards, however, after the hosts pulled one back immediately with Panayiotou smashing it beyond De Gea in the United goal.
Despite the late scare, Erik ten Hag's side saw the game out to claim another important three points.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Short highlights of this game will be published on ManUtd.com and the United App two hours after full-time. Longer versions, including the full 90 minutes, will be available from midnight.
MATCH DETAILS
Omonia Nicosia: Fabiano; Matthews, Miletic (Bezus 82), Yuste, Lang, Lecjaks; Diskerud (Panayiotou 72), Charalambous, Barker (Papoulis 61); Bruno (Loizou 72), Ansarifard (Kakoullis 61)
Subs not used: Panayi, Uzoho, Kitsos, Zachariou
Goals: Ansarifard 34, Panayiotou 85
Booked: Charalambous, Kakoullis
United: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia (Shaw 46); Casemiro (McTominay 82), Eriksen; Antony (Fred 74), Fernandes (Martial 62), Sancho (Rashford 46); Ronaldo.
Subs not used: Heaton, Dubravka, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho, Iqbal.
Goals: Rashford 54, 84, Martial 63.
Booked: Martinez, Shaw