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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Elliott Jackson

Owen Hargreaves explains why he was so impressed by Man Utd's second half performance vs AZ Alkmaar

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has lavished praise on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side for their second-half performance as they beat AZ Alkmaar 4-0.

Teenage sensation Mason Greenwood weighed in on the act with a brace as United scored four goals in 11 minutes to breeze past AZ Alkmaar.

With the score locked at 0-0 at half-time, there had been little in the way of clear-cut chances.

However, after Ashley Young opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, the goals flowed with Greenwood adding two goals either side of Juan Mata's penalty.

That secured top spot for United in Group L as they ended their Europa League group with 13 points from six outings.

Finishing first means Solskjaer's side will be seeded for the round of 32 draw, which will see them avoid the teams that have dropped down from the Champions League such as Inter Milan and Ajax.

It was a night where Greenwood stole the show and received plaudits from Hargreaves and Michael Owen for his finishing.

However, Hargreaves was also impressed with the tempo of United's second-half display, ruling it one of their best halves of football this season.

"He's (Greenwood) been brilliant, he's just a natural finisher," Hargreaves told BT Sport after the full-time whistle.

"Michael (Owen) and I were just talking and every time he shoots, he is so composed. He never tries to smash it, he picks a corner, he makes it look easy.

"In the second half, I thought Manchester United were outstanding, positive, they pressed, they were more aggressive and they got more in the half of AZ and absolutely blew them away. 

"One of their best halves of football this season."

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