Manchester United 3-1 Club Brugge- UCL 1st leg 3rd round Qualifier
19/08/2015 08:30
Manchester United go into the second leg full of confidence after a late goal gave them a comfortable two goal cushion.
Memphis Depay stole the show with two goals and one assist but overall it was a controlled performance over the Belgian side Club Brugge.
The away leg which is one week away on the 26th August sees United travel to Belgian to turn and hold or increase their lead.
United needed the perfect start and that's just what they didn't get as 8 minutes in a free-kick took a double deflection of Januzaj and then Carrick to give the Belgian side a major boost. Their was nothing Romero could do as Carrick hung his head in shame.
The lead however had lasted all of 5 minutes as the newly crowded number 7 Memphis touched the ball over Brugge defender Cools on the edge of the box and started running. Memphis had dribbled his way into the box before his shot could cannon into the bottom right hand corner! A fantastic goal as he celebrated with pure delight at getting his first Manchester United goal!
The Red Devils were now spurred on by the crowd and momentum as they pushed forward for more.
Wayne Rooney would come close as his acrobatic effort was cleared off the line by Brugge captain Vazquez. Memphis had a few chances to grab a second as a long range punt saw the keeper parry away from safety.
Memphis grabbed his second in spectacular style as from the left hand he had cut in and curled a glorious shot around all the defenders and into the bottom right corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance. His second goal of the night ensured that people will be talking about for a few weeks to come! Memphis quickly run over to do a whip celebration which of course sent social media into a frenzy.
At half time and United were ahead. Not by much but they were ahead as the second half hoped to bring more goals than you could imagine (all for United of course).
It had taken just two minutes of the second half to realise that United had all the momentum as Mata saw his shot saved and then Memphis was denied his hat-trick just wide of the target.
The best chance of the half fell of course to Memphis who missed his chance to grab a hat-trick. Shaw had lost the ball and then had won it back as he had dribbled across the pitch and too the right hand byline. He then clipped the ball into Rooney who drew two defenders with him and then flicked the ball behind him to Memphis who was in the box, in space but could not keep his shot down!
Brandon Mechele then saw a second yellow given to him for a second bookable offence. So he took the long walk with United fans waving goodbye.
Then in the dying seconds United added their third through Substitute Maraoune Fellaini. Memphis this time the provider as he looped a ball into the back post with the referee about to blow his whistle. Fellaini rose quickest and headed the ball into the bottom right hand corner!
At full time and United take a controlled lead to Belgium with confidence and hopes high that we can reach the group stages!
Lineups:
MUFC XI: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Carrick [Schweinsteiger 45], Schneiderlin, Mata, Memphis, Januzaj [Chicharito 71], Rooney [Fellaini 84].
Subs: Johnstone, Valencia, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Fellaini, Young, Chicharito.
Club Brugge XI vs. Man United: Bruzzese; Cools, Mechele, Duarte, De Bock; Vormer, Simons, Vazquez; Dierckx, Diaby, Bolingoli.
Next Game:
Newcastle United Sat 22nd Aug 12:45 BST