WALK IN THE PARK
Rashford and Fernandes ensure United brush off Granada
MARCUS Rashford’s brilliant finish and a Bruno Fernandes penalty handed Manchester United a 2-0 victory over Granada on Thursday, putting them firmly in charge of their Europa League quarter-final.
Rashford latched onto a long ball from Victor Lindelof in the first half, the striker injecting the one bit of quality into a frantic contest at Los Carmenes before Fernandes made it two in the 90th minute.
The result gives United a commanding lead heading into the second leg next week at Old Trafford, where they should finish the job and book their place in the semi-final to face either Ajax or Roma, the Italians leading 2-1 after the first leg.
“It’s a clean sheet and David (de Gea) wasn’t really troubled,” said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“There were moments that could have been chances, but I thought we defended well when we had to and I think 2-0 is a good lead.”
Rashford has now scored eight of United’s 23 goals in Europe this season.
“It was a very good run and he takes the ball fantastically,” said Solskjaer.
Granada celebrated their 90year anniversary on Tuesday and arguably have never played a bigger fixture, a club that has never won a major trophy against one that has claimed 20 Premier League titles and three European Cups.
This is something of a fairytale for the Spanish club that finished 10th in the second division only three years ago before Diego Martinez, arguably La Liga’s brightest up and coming coach, engineered promotion and then qualification for Europe.
Six players in their starting line-up played for them in the second tier and with Los Carmenes empty, Granada even sent all their season ticket holders a personalised ticket as a souvenir to mark the occasion.
But it will take a momentous comeback next week for them to turn this tie around.
“I think the result is a harsh punishment for what happened in the game,” said Martinez.
“The last goal hurts, it hurts a lot.”
Solskjaer fielded a strong lineup, with Rashford handed a start despite coming off against Brighton on Sunday with a knock.
De Gea was picked in goal for the first time since February.
Granada had Roberto Soldado up front, the 35-year-old striker who endured two disappointing seasons with Tottenham in the Premier League but tasted victory against United in his last appearance for them in 2014, when he came off for a young Harry Kane.
United had to survive a frantic opening period when neither side really settled but Rashford dropped the first bit of real precision
into the match just after half an hour.
Lindelof spotted his run in behind but Rashford still had a lot to do, his outstretched foot cushioning the ball perfectly into his path and giving him a simple finish
past Rui Silva.
Fernandes won the penalty, fouled by Yan Eteki before getting up to take it, a scuffed shot squirming into the bottom corner to put United in sight of the semis.