Europa League: Pogba inspires United’s win

Manchester United have earned a 4-1 Europa League win over Fenerbahce at Old Trafford to pick up back-to-back European victories for the first time in three years.
Paul Pogba got the ball rolling for the hosts, coolly tucking away the penalty after a drawn-out run-up, before adding a second later in the half to put his side on their way to a comfortable win, which takes them joint-top of Group A.
Pogba had one shot blocked by the head of ex-Liverpool defender, Martin Skrtel, and Anthony Martial failed to make contact when picked out at the back post, but it was proving to be a frustrating start to the match for the 71,000 spectators inside the Theatre of Dreams – a record attendance for a Europa League group game.
United were soon on their way, though, with Pogba converting the first penalty when Juan Mata was brought down inside the area, before Martial did likewise three minutes later after a push from Sener Ozbayrakli who somehow avoided any further punishment from the referee.
United were able to make sure of the points from the final kick of the opening 45 minutes, as Jesse Lingard teed the ball up for Pogba to curl a screamer into the top corner – his second of the night and third since rejoining the club in a record-breaking move.
If the points were not assured before the interval then they certainly were just moments after the restart – Rooney quickly shifting the ball on for Lingard who in turn picked out the bottom corner for his first European goal.
Much of the pre-match talk had centred around Robin van Persie’s return to Old Trafford, where he scored 58 goals in 105 appearances during his days as a United player, yet it took until an hour in for the Dutchman to muster his first shot.
It was a good attempt, though, as he curled the ball just inches wide of the target with De Gea rooted to his spot, as Fenerbahce continued to struggle to grow into the match.
There was still time for the inevitable Van Persie goal late on, thanks to a well-timed run to profit on half-time sub Emmanuel Emenike’s pass, leading to ripples of applause from the home fans and from Sir Alex Ferguson – the man who brought him to the club – high up in the stands.