MANCHESTER UTD 5 TWO-FOOTED CHALLENGE Greenwood’s good with his left or right in United bid for the top four
BOURNEMOUTH 2
MASON GREENWOOD is such a natural talent that when interviewed for the first time he was asked about his favoured foot.
Greenwood confirmed it was his left – but at Old Trafford yesterday the Manchester United teenager showed that both of his shooting boots are absolutely lethal.
Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and the talismanic Bruno Fernandes were also on target as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side cranked up their bid for the top four.
But it was Greenwood who stole a show. It is clear to see why Solskjaer has hailed the 18-year-old as his club’s most gifted finisher. Greenwood has scored 15 times in his breakthrough season
– and with another 12 months to go before the delayed Euros kick off, Harry Kane might have a contender to deal with.
United were trailing to Junior
Stanislas’ cheekily crafted 15thminute opener when Greenwood (above) conjured up his first flash of magic. There was still plenty of work to do when
Fernandes’ poked pass enabled him to escape Adam Smith on the edge of the box.
Greenwood’s first touch loaded the bullet. His second sent a high-calibre left-footed missile scorching into the roof of the net off Aaron Ramsdale’s fingertips.
United needed him again when he used his right foot to equally stunning effect nine minutes into the second half.
The home side had gone in at the break 3-1 to the good.
But Josh King’s reply from the spot four minutes after the restart had cast doubt into Mancunian minds.
When Greenwood found himself running towards a deserted Stretford End, he didn’t hesitate.
Ramsdale was left flailing again as he unleashed the cleanest of strikes.
Eddie Howe would have been encouraged by the way his men started both halves – but
Bournemouth remain deep in the drop zone. Rashford gave United the lead from the penalty spot, stroking home his 20th goal of the campaign in the 35th minute after Smith had handled.
And Martial joined him on 20 for the season when he collected Fernandes’ pass and cut in to curl a glorious shot high past Ramsdale in firsthalf injury-time.
But any belief that United were home and hosed was extinguished when King revived the visitors by firing home from the spot after substitute Eric Bailly was harshly adjudged to have handled.
Arnaut Danjuma beat David De Gea with a poked finish but had strayed offside. That was the cue for Greenwood to sooth United nerves.
It was a pity the teenager didn’t get the ovation he deserved when Solskjaer took him off 15 minutes from time.
By then Fernandes had sealed the deal, whipping home a free-kick just before the hour from the edge of the box which sped past the poorly-positioned Ramsdale.
MAN UTD BOURNEMOUTH 10 ............ Shots on Target ........... 3 4 ............. Shots off Target ........... 2 5 ............... BlockedShots ............ 2 8 ..................... Corners ................... 3 3 ........................ Fouls .................... 12 4 ..................... Offsides .................. 4 0 ................. Yellow Cards ............... 1 0 ................... Red Cards ................ 0 88.6 .... Passing Success %.. 75.4 48 ................. Duels Won ............... 31 60.8 ....... Duel Success % ...... 39.2 15 ..................... Tackles ................... 11 53.3 ......... Tackles Won % ...... 36.4 69.8 ......... Possession % ....... 30.2 54.7 ....... Territorial Adv % .... 45.3 648 ............ Total Passes .......... 276 21 ............... Total Crosses ............. 9 113 ................. Lost Balls .............. 113 56 ................ Recoveries .............. 52 71.1 ........... 1st Half Poss % ...... 28.9 68.6 ...... 2nd Half Poss % ...... 31.4
■■Bournemouth have become