Champions League: Bruno Fernandes bags brace as Man United sink Basaksehir | Football News – Times of India

MANCHESTER: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted Manchester United are again on monitor after they avenged their humbling Champions League defeat in opposition to Istanbul Basaksehir with a 4-1 rout of the Turkish aspect on Tuesday.
Solskjaer’s workforce crashed to a shock 2-1 loss by the hands of the Group H outsiders in Istanbul earlier in November.
But there was by no means any likelihood of one other upset as United ran Basaksehir ragged at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes was the catalyst with a shocking lengthy-vary opener early within the first half.
He doubled the lead earlier than passing up a hat-trick likelihood when he allowed Marcus Rashford to transform the penalty that introduced United’s third aim earlier than half-time.
Basaksehir’s Deniz Turuc netted a superb free-kick however, after a late United wobble, Daniel James struck within the ultimate moments to seal the factors.
“I felt first half we saw the intent straight away, they wanted to play and they enjoyed it,” Solskjaer stated.
“It’s a Champions League night at Old Trafford, you’d expect them to enjoy themselves. We scored some very nice goals, I’m pleased.”
United’s third win from 4 group matches means one level from their final two video games in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig would safe their place within the final 16.
“We need one point, but of course we want to be top of the group but we’ll take it one game at a time,” Solskjaer stated.
United’s loss in Istanbul had raised critical questions on Solskjaer’s skill to carry onto his job.
But successive Premier League wins in opposition to Everton and West Brom, adopted by this emphatic success, have eased the strain on Solskjaer a little bit.
Solskjaer named Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani within the beginning line-up for the primary time since his signing in October.
With Paul Pogba nonetheless sidelined by a swollen ankle, there was a uncommon begin for Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek.
“The two are getting used to how we want them to play. Donny can play in different positions and Edinson is a good old fashioned number nine. We haven’t had that for a while,” Solskjaer stated.
Both Cavani, who has scored as soon as in seven appearances for United, and Van de Beek did their possibilities of a extra common motion no hurt with stable shows, nevertheless it was Fernandes and Rashford who stole the present.
United tore into their overwhelmed guests and so they deservedly took the lead within the seventh minute.
When Alex Telles’ nook was solely cleared to the sting of the world, Fernandes let it bounce earlier than unleashing a thunderous strike that flashed into the roof of the online.
It was the Portugal midfielder’s eighth aim of the season and his second in successive video games.
Rampant United doubled their lead within the nineteenth minute with a present from Mert Gunok.
Telles’ cross ought to have been simple for Gunok, however he appeared distracted by Cavani’s half-hearted try to succeed in it and dropped the ball to Fernandes, who had the easy process of slotting into the empty internet.
Fernandes’ influence on United has been big since he arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January, the 26-12 months-outdated now straight concerned in 34 objectives in 35 video games in all competitions for United.
United have been in whole management and the third aim got here courtesy of Rashford’s electrical tempo within the thirty sixth minute.
Sprinting onto Victor Lindelof’s lengthy move, Rashford surged into the Basaksehir space earlier than being barged over by Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo.
Fernandes was on a hat-trick and had scored a penalty in opposition to West Brom on Saturday.
He let Rashford take the penalty as an alternative this time and the England ahead despatched Gunok the mistaken approach for his fifth Champions League aim in 4 video games this season.
Basaksehir obtained one again within the seventy fifth minute when Turuc’s very good free-kick went over the road regardless of De Gea’s try to claw it out.
James completed off Mason Greenwood’s move in stoppage-time for his first United aim since March.