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Bruno Fernandes’ rocket put Man Utd on track to a complete Champions League victory against Istanbul Basaksehir as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team took a big step into the knockout phase.
After kicking off the European campaign with magnificent victories against Paris St Germain and RB Leipzig, the defeat to the Turkish champions in early November threatened to derail the Red Devils’ Group H campaign.
But Man Utd took revenge and got back on track at an empty Old Trafford, where Fernandes’ first-half double was complemented by a Marcus Rashford penalty and a late Daniel James goal in a 4-1 win over Basaksehir.
READ MORE: Is Solskjaer Brave Enough To Hug Van de Beek?
Solskjaer’s side now only need one point from their two remaining Group H matches to secure progress to the round of 16, which they have only reached three times since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
The great Manchester United was in attendance on Tuesday and will have had memories of Paul Scholes when Fernandes shot home with a hard hit on the rebound in just seven minutes.
Fernandes’ second of the night was a bunt after Basaksehir goalkeeper Mert Gunok waved a cross, and Rashford shot home the winning penalty to put the hosts in cruise control.
The Portuguese seemed quite annoyed to give the striker the ball when he expected to complete a hat-trick just days after his winning shot against West Brom.
United’s standards fell in the second half and Basaksehir threw one back when David De Gea failed to push in Deniz Turuc’s free kick, but substitute James struck in injury time to add sparkle to the scoreboard.
Edinson Cavani, making his first outing at United, and Donny van de Beek impressed as Rashford, deployed to the right of Solskjaer’s three forwards, quickly made his presence felt.
The England forward showed brilliant footwork and perseverance in the first two minutes to make room for a shot that was unable to follow after an initial save.
Anthony Martial displayed similar skill when he twisted the blood of former United defender Rafael before having his cut thwarted.
The home team’s intention would soon translate into an early starter. Alex Telles’ corner kick from the left was only cleared until Fernandes on the edge of the area and the midfielder unleashed a shocking blow that flew into the upper right corner.
It was as sharp a shot as could be desired and United kept their foot on the gas, with Fernandes sending a sublime ball through Rashford to thread a first shot between goalkeeper Gunok’s legs from an acute angle.
The goal was disallowed for offside but United would get their second in the 19th minute. Telles threw a cross and Gunok flapped with Cavani on the prowl, allowing Fernandes to become an empty net from six yards.
Visiting captain Edin Visca looked like the Turkish champions’ biggest threat, but United were holding them at bay, and Basaksehir’s hopes of getting something out of this match were extinguished in the 35th minute.
A Victor Lindelof ball from the back sent Rashford running through, only for Boli Bolingoli to push him into the box. Rashford went ahead for the penalty in place of two-goal Fernandes, sending Gunok down the wrong track after a lengthy VAR review.
Demba Ba had two opportunities to cut the deficit before the break, the second Solskjaer leader to yell at Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Visca forced De Gea to make a smart save shortly after the restart.
Rafael lashed out violently as Solskjaer rang the substitutions which, combined with their comfortable lead, saw them advance until the visitors managed to retreat in the 75th minute. De Gea parried a free kick with Turuc’s left leg, but referee Ovidiu Hategan signaled his watch to indicate that the ball had crossed the line.
The United goalkeeper yelled for his team to “wake up” after Visca rattled the wood shortly after, but there would be no more scares.
Instead, the hosts added a fourth when Mason Greenwood crossed for fellow substitute James to leisurely spin home at the end of an injury time fast break.
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