Internet Desk: Manchester United sealed a place in the knock outs of the Europa League on Thursday night with a 2-0 win over Zorya Luhansk. It was the first win for the Red Devils in 10 away games in Europe this season.
United were in the brink of elimination as a loss against Zorya would have seen Mourinho’s team not qualifying for knock out stages. Fenerbahce, who won 1-0 at Feyenoord thanks to a Moussa Sow effort topped Group A ahead of United.
Midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave United the lead while Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed the fate for his side with a late strike in the second half. It was his seventh goal in his last six matches.
Mkhitaryan, who joined United for 44 million dollars from Borussia Dortmund in the close season, may finally have won over manager Jose Mourinho after he danced through the heart of the defence to slot home his first goal for the club early in the second half.
“The first goal was magnificent,” Ibrahimovic said on MUTV. “He came in speed and had control all the way. Then the timing to put between the legs was beautiful. He killed the game by scoring.”
A group of around 200 United fans heading to the stadium were pelted with bottles and stones by local fans. Police prevented fighting.
In another incident, some Ukrainian fans also tried to attack United supporters in the stadium. This follows major trouble two nights ago in the capital of Ukraine around the Dynamo Kiev-Besiktas match.
In another match, Premier League Southampton were dumped out after a 1-1 draw at home to Hapoel Beer Sheva that was enough to send the Israeli side into the next round as Group K runners-up.