Manchester United have one foot in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals after thrashing Real Betis 4-1 in their first-leg last 16 clash on Thursday night.
UEFA Europa League
Teams: Manchester United 4-1 Real Betis
Date: 09 March 2023
Venue: Old Trafford
Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag surprisingly made no changes from the embarrassing defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool four days ago at Anfield.
The home side made a fast start to the encounter as Marcus Rashford opened the scoring six minutes into the first half with a powerful strike into the roof of the net.
United went close to doubling their lead on 17 minutes when Luke Shaw did well to pick out Wout Weghorst, who saw his sweeping strike deflected just wide of the upright, before Rashford was denied by Claudio Bravo a minute later.
Weghorst was presented with another chance ten minutes after getting on the end of Antony's cross, but the bid Dutch striker blazed over the crossbar eight yards out.
United were made to rue those missed chances as Betis levelled matters with their first opening on 33 minutes through former Leicester City star Ayoze Perez's superb low strike.
Betis were unlucky not to have had a second goal before the break when a poor clearance from David De Gea allowed Perez to get in behind but his shot deflected onto the upright.
Six minutes into the second half, United managed to restore their lead in spectacular fashion as Antony cut in from the right and curled a superb shot into the top corner.
The third goal arrived in the 57th minute as Bruno Fernandes got his name on the score-sheet by nodding home a corner from Luke Shaw at the near post.
United should have had a fourth after the hour mark as well-worked passing move ended with Fernandes playing in Antony, who lobbed over the crossbar although squaring the ball to Fred would have been the better option.
The home side did get the fourth goal with nine minutes to go as substitute Facundo Pellistri did well to pick out Scott McTominay, whose shot was saved but Weghorst was on hand to smash home the rebound.
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