Paul Pogba shines as Man Utd win against Young Boys in Champions League opener
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Updated 19/09/2018 at 21:20 GMT
Champions League Group H, Stade de Suisse Wankdorf - Young Boys 0 Manchester United 3 (Pogba 35', 44' pen, Martial 66')
Manchester United's Paul Pogba celebrates with Fred and Anthony Martial after scoring their second goal
Image credit: Reuters
Paul Pogba scored twice and assisted another as Manchester United started their Champions League campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Young Boys.
Jose Mourinho’s side needed three points from this one after being drawn with Juventus and Valencia in Group H of the competition, and they got what they came for in Switzerland, swatting aside the Swiss outfit making their first appearance in the Champions League group stage.
It was a relatively even affair until Pogba opened the scoring after 35 minutes, smashing a finish high into the roof of the net from the edge of the box. And the Frenchman added a second following a contentious refereeing decision, converting from the penalty spot.
Anthony Martial added a third in the second half, converting after a counter attack led by Pogba, adding some gloss to the scoreline for Man Utd on a night where their superior quality shone through in the end.
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Manchester United's French striker Anthony Martial (C) celebrates after scoring with teammates Romelu Lukaku (L) and Luke Shaw (R) during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Young Boys and Manchester United at The Stade de Suisse in B
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT - Were Young Boys dealt a poor hand this evening?
The Swiss champions had in fact been the better side when Pogba opened the scoring in stunning fashion. Then Young Boys were on the end of a dubious decision from the referee to award Man Utd a penalty kick, with Kevin Mbabu harshly adjudged to have handled the ball despite his arm being by his side and the ball being fired at him from close range. It was in these two moments that the game was lost for the hosts. So were they dealt a poor hand?
MAN OF THE MATCH - Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
There has been much written and said about Pogba over the early part of the season, but his form in recent games has been impressive. This was another commanding performance from the Frenchman, with his opening goal the highlight of the match. There looked to be nothing on when Pogba picked up the ball on the edge of the box, but his shift and finish high into the net changed the course of the game.
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Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba gestures during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Young Boys and Manchester United at The Stade de Suisse in Bern on September 19, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Young Boys - Von Ballmoos 5, Mbabu 7, Camara 6, Von Bergen 5, Benito 5, Fassnacht 6, Sow 5, Sanogo 5, Sulejmani 6, Hoarau 5, Assale 5. Subs - Aebischer 6, Ngamaleu 5, Nsame 5.
Man Utd - De Gea 6, Dalot 7, Smalling 7, Lindelof 6, Shaw 6, Fred 6, Matic 6, Pogba 8, Rashford 5, Lukaku 6, Martial 7. Subs - Perreira 5, Fellaini 5, Mata 5.
KEY MOMENTS
8’ Just wide of the post! That was a let off for United. Fassnacht gets on the end of a cross into the box from Mbabu, but glances his header just wide of the far post. De Gea was beaten.
23’ Outside of the post! Shaw gets down the left side and plays a low cross to the front post. Rashford makes his run to the near post, flicks a finish to the near post, but his shot hits the outside of the post and goes wide.
35’ GOAL! Young Boys 0-1 Manchester United: That's a belter of a goal! Pogba picks up the ball on the edge of the Young Boys box, shifts the ball from his right foot to his left foot and then thumps a shot high into the top corner of the net. What a way to open the scoring!
42’ PENALTY KICK TO MAN UTD! It's a handball against Mbabu. That looked a harsh one against the Swiss player.
43’ GOAL! Young Boys 0-2 Manchester United: It's two for Man Utd and it's two for Pogba. The Frenchman steps up to the 12-yard mark, taking his time with the run up, and finds the top corner of the Young Boys net! United have a cushion.
65’ GOAL! Young Boys 0-3 Manchester United: It's a third goal for United and that should be all three points secured! Pogba came flying forward on the counter attack, played the ball out to Martial, whose finish found the back of the net via a deflection off a defender.
74’ How did he miss? That should have been a goal for Young Boys. Camara got on the end of a corner kick inside the six yard box, but somehow manages to clip the outside of the post with the goal gaping.
93’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... NO! Man Utd think that they have grabbed a fourth, with Mata and Lukaku between them converting a Dalot cross. But the offside flag was raised.
KEY STATS
- Paul Pogba scored his first Champions League goal for Manchester United with his sixth shot in the competition.
- Anthony Martial scored his first goal for Manchester United in 242 days (since January 20, 2018).
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