{"id":47128,"date":"2022-10-06T19:55:17","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T02:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=47128"},"modified":"2022-10-06T19:55:18","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T02:55:18","slug":"europa-league-ansarifard-scores-in-omonia-loss-to-manchester-united-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2022\/10\/06\/europa-league-ansarifard-scores-in-omonia-loss-to-manchester-united-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Europa League: Ansarifard scores in Omonia loss to Manchester United [VIDEO]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sky Sports – NICOSIA, Manchester United avoided an embarrassing defeat to Omonia Nicosia courtesy of a second-half comeback to win 3-2 in the Europa League after being behind at the break.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Omonia Nicosia – fourth in the Cypriot league and managed by former Celtic boss Neil Lennon – went in 1-0 to the good at half-time after a quick break following a Manchester United corner ended with Karim Ansarifard scoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik ten Hag, who picked a strong side including Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro, reacted by bringing on Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw and it was Rashford that started the comeback with a cool finish before fellow substitute Anthony Martial struck the visitors in front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rashford made it 3-1 to cap an impressive individual showing before Nikolas Panayiotou meant United had to stay switched on in the closing stages after narrowing the deficit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ronaldo looked desperate to impress but his 700th career goal evaded him on a frustrating night, culminating in a jaw-dropping miss that hit the post despite the goal gaping from six yards out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a 1-0 defeat by Real Sociedad in their opening game, United are now sitting pretty in Group E after back-to-back wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite bossing the opening 30 minutes, United’s wastefulness in front of goal held them back. Bruno Fernandes looped a finish off the crossbar whilst the impressive Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper Fabiano denied Ronaldo with a smart low save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United allowed their opponents, who finished seventh in the league but qualified for Europe through winning the Cypriot Cup for the first time in a decade, to grow into the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, unbelievably, the minnows scored with their first shot on goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jadon Sancho put Tyrell Malacia into trouble following a United corner and a slip from the full-back allowed the hosts to break forward. With Sancho failing to run back, Omonia had a three-on-one situation and Bruno slipped the ball into Ansarifard, who took a touch before smashing the ball into the top corner of David de Gea’s net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sancho and Malacia paid for their mistakes at the break and it was a game-changing decision from Ten Hag as Rashford exploded into life from the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took just eight minutes to draw United level. Fernandes swept a superb 50-yard ball into his path and the England international steadied himself before curling an intelligent finish into the far corner to start the comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rashford then produced a classy flick to find fellow substitute Martial in space. The Frenchman showed his level of confidence by getting his shot away quickly and found the bottom corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A potential crisis looked to be averted 10 minutes from time when a frustrated Ronaldo, who struck a post from six yards with the goal gaping, gave up trying to score from every angle and played a clever ball across the goal for Rashford to tap home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Omonia rallied again with Panayiotou firing into the top corner to set up a dramatic final few minutes but United stayed strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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