Mason Greenwood proved Thursday night’s Europa League hero for Manchester United after he popped up late in the second half with a superb individual goal to secure all three points for the Reds.
It was a disjointed performance by United against Astana after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer bestowed starts to a number of fringe and youth players. In fact, the United boss made a total of nine changes from the side that beat Leicester City 1-0 on Saturday.
Whilst some players failed to truly make a sizeable impression in the fixture, Greenwood grasped his opportunity with both hands. He was accurate and imposing on the ball, registering a pass success rate of 88 per cent which was noticeably higher than his usual average of 83 per cent.
He started the game on the right of United’s attack, however his growing influence over the course of the campaign saw him pushed upfront with Marcus Rashford moving onto the left flank.
Although it was just his second start for United, the 17-year-old was confident and imposing, both of which were on display in the build up to his winning goal.
As an attack builds, Greenwood shows brilliant spacial awareness to drift out to the right flank where there is an area of space to receive the ball.
Greenwood’s initial touch is a good one allowing him to stand the pressing defender up. His prowess using both feet makes him a real threat in these situations as the defending player doesn’t know which direction the teenager will go.
The teenager opens up his body as if he is going to strike the ball towards goal. As a result, the defender stretches to try and block the expected shot.
Instead of unleashing a shot with his left foot, he superbly cuts inside onto his favoured right foot using a fine piece of skill which wrong foots the defender.
Even despite his great individual work to carve open the space to unleash the shot, the angle and positioning of the keeper are working against the United man. In fact, the xG value of his effort was just 0.10, basically illustrating that his chance had around just a 10% chance of leading to a goal.
Yet, in the week Solskjaer was quick to label the forward as one of the best finishers he had ever seen, and he illustrated that finishing prowess by firing the ball through the legs of the Astana keeper.
That piece of skill added with a brilliant finish provided a much needed spark to a largely underwhelming night at Old Trafford and secured all three points for Solskjaer’s men.
More standout moments in crucial periods for United will no doubt lead to a more starring role for the youngster across the rest of this campaign.
