Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score twice and help Manchester United overcome a half-time deficit to beat Omonia Nicosia 3-2 in a Europa League group phase clash in Cyprus on Thursday.
With United stunningly trailing to a first-half goal from Karim Ansarifard, Rashford came on at the interval and scored one and set up another for Anthony Martial to turn the game on its head within 20 minutes of his arrival.
Rashford added United’s third with six minutes remaining before Omonia ensured a nervy finale after Nikolas Panagiotou immediately pulled a goal back.
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The result leaves United second in Group E on six points, three behind leaders Real Sociedad and three ahead of Sheriff Tiraspol. Omonia, who will visit Old Trafford in a week’s time, remain without a point.
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Rapid Reaction
1. Substitutes turn it around for Manchester United after a scare
Omonia Nicosia had only won one of their previous 26 European fixtures beyond the qualifying rounds when they welcomed Manchester United to the GSP Stadium on Thursday night but they still managed to give Erik ten Hag’s side a scare. Despite dominating the first half in terms of possession and chances, United went in at half-time 1-0 down thanks to a shambolic Tyrell Malacia mistake contributing to Karim Ansarifard’s opener after a clinical counter-attack.
Omonia manager Neil Lennon was part of the Celtic team which shocked United in the Champions League group stages in 2006 but his hopes of masterminding another unlikely victory were short-lived as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial came off the bench to put the visitors 2-1 up early in the second half. Rashford scored again to make it 3-1 before Nikolaos Panagiotou made it 3-2 late on to set up a nervous finish.
After the demolition in the derby against Manchester City and an early Europa League defeat to Real Sociedad, it wasn’t a game Ten Hag could afford to lose and while the result was the right one, the Dutchman won’t be happy with parts of the performance. United should have been out of sight well before Omonia scored their first and it was fortunate that Rashford and Martial were on hand to mount a rescue act in the second half.
