CAPTAIN CHAOS!
Bruno scores one, sets one up but is lucky to avoid a red
BRUNO FERNANDES was back in the goals and the referee’s bad books as Manchester United put their Anfield pain behind them against Real Betis to take charge of their Europa League last-16 tie.
Stand-in captain Fernandes, the main target of United fans’ ire in their 7-0 humbling by Liverpool on Sunday, powered a header past former Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to put his side 3-1 up. But he was then lucky to avoid a red card when he caught Bravo high on the shin with a sliding tackle.
Marcus Rashford had opened the scoring with his 26th goal of the season before Leicester loanee Ayoze Perez equalised for Betis. Fernandes set up a wonderful curling strike from Antony to put United back in front, and Wout Weghorst’s first Old Trafford goal sealed the win late on.
AFTER the horrors of Anfield and a day that will never have been forgotten, Erik ten Hag would have taken this. Like the first glass of water to calm the hangover, recovery has begun.
Manchester United just needed to win here. A big score and a statement performance would have been perfect. They got the first if not quite the second. For a time after Real Betis equalised late in the first half, United looked vaguely uncertain. The Spanish team also hit the post during that period.
But a win was good enough and it was also deserved. rved. United were the better team eam by a distance in the second half and two goals before the hour and a late one from the he ever willing Wout ut Weghorst mean n they head to Spain for next week’s second leg almost certain of a place in the next round of a competition they y have every right t to think they can an win.
Only four days since that 7-0 defeat to Livl Liverpool — it still sounds strange to say it t — United were out the blocks ocks quickly and led courtesy of a thumping Marcus Rashford shot in the sixth minute. For a while it felt comfortable but when Ayoze Perez, on loan from Leicester, equalised just after the half hour and then struck a post, the night threatened to get a little nervy for United.
Half-time came at a good time, though, and when the Brazilian Antony curled in a beauty at the Stretford End, it was soon followed by a header from captain Bruno Fernandes. Both players had copped a little stick after Sunday’s shambles but both contributed well here. Fernandes was, on reflection, just about United’s best player on the night, even if he did receive a yellow card for following through on goalkeeper Bravo.
Same team but different start from Anfield. Here, with the crowd initially vocal and supportive, United were on top almost immediately and a goal up inside six minutes.
They survived a nervous moment inside their own penalty area as an overhit Diogo Dalot backpass caused some alarm for goalkeeper David de Gea. But from there United swept upfield hungrily and when Bruno Fernandes crossed towards Rashford Betis defender Luiz Felipe could not clear properly and the United striker took a touch, moved inside and lashed yet another goal high into the net above goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
United needed that, it seemed. But what they also needed was to build on a perfect start. What they actually did, slowly and over the course of the first half, was regress and essentially invite the Spanish team back in to the game.
For a while United did continue to press. A lovely cross with the outside of the foot from Casemiro gave Weghorst a headed opportunity that he directed into Bravo’s arms. Then a lovely low cross from the advancing left back Luke Shaw offered Weghorst another opportunity but his side-footed shot was deflected wide of the near post.
United were on top without being consistently dangerous. With Weghorst playing as a traditional centre forward with Rashford and the Brazilian Antony on either side, the United attack looked to have goals in it. Betis were not without a threat of their own, though, and this was particularly the case when the Spanish forward Juanmi had the ball. The 29-year-old was ultimately to play an important role in the visitors’ equaliser. Juanmi took possession on the left and his chipped diagonal pass found Perez in space. A low cross seemed the most likely option but instead he struck the ball with the outside of his right foot and it found the far corner of De Gea’s net with some help from the foot of the post.
It had taken only 10 minutes or so to quieten Old Trafford and for the opening moments of the second half United looked as uncertain as they had at any stage of the game. The fluency and certainty of their passing was absent.
Ten Hag’s team do have quality in some positions, though, and seven minutes into the second half it bubbled to the surface. Fernandes’ turn in centre field was neat as was his pass to Antony. The curling left foot shot that then found the far corner of the goal was pretty much perfect.
Confidence and purpose restored,
United pushed on. Six minutes later they had their third. United won a corner on the left and when Fernandes moved in unmarked he headed goalwards. Bravo should have saved it but didn’t, serving only to push the ball up and into the roof of the net.
United now had the opportunity to put the tie to bed. With more than half an hour to go, they were in control of a game that had briefly threatened to slip away from them.
Chances came and went for a period. Antony may have scored a second when played through beautifully by Fernandes. Weghorst then struck a shot down in to the ground and up into Bravo’s hands. With eight minutes left the Dutchman did get his goal, slamming the ball in from close range. His ecstatic celebration spoke volumes for what this outcome meant for him and indeed his team. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6; Dalot 6 (Wan-Bissaka 46min, 6), Varane 6.5, Martinez 6.5, Shaw 6 (Malacia 65, 6); Casemiro 6, Fred 6 (McTominay 82); ANTONY 7 (Pellistri 82), Weghorst 6, Fernandes 7; Rashford 7 (Sancho 65, 6.5). Scorers: Rashford 6, Antony 52, Fernandes 58, Weghorst 82. Booked: Weghorst, Fernandes. Manager: Erik ten Hag 6.5.
REAL BETIS (4-2-3-1): Bravo 5; Sabaly 6, Pezzella 6, Luiz Felipe 5.5, Vinicius 6; Rodriguez 6 (Guardado 59, 6), Carvalho 6.5; Henrique 6.5 (Ruibal 59, 6), Joaquin 6 (Canales 59, 6), Juanmi 7 (Da Silva 80); Perez 7 (Iglesias 65, 6.5). Scorer: Perez 32. Booked: None. Manager: Manuel Pellegrini 6.
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Ger) 6.5. Attendance: Not provided.