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Manchester United did it in a win that gives them nine points and firm control of Group H. Bruno Fernandes was once again the key man in Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team, decorating the victory with two goals in his last dazzling full display. .
The fact that United were defeated by these same opponents just three weeks ago felt particularly strange given their overall superiority here, at least until Deniz Turuc’s 75-minute free kick passed David de Gea.
Edin Visca then hit the bar as a reminder of how costly carelessness can be. However, in the end, United were a worthy victor and have now won their last three games.
Solskjær said: “We need one more point to pass, but we want to be first in the group, [so] we take it step by step. Next up is Paris Saint-Germain coming here, so we’re looking forward to it.
“I felt that in the first half you could see the intensity of the boys. The boys wanted to play. They enjoyed it. It’s a Champions League night at home, you hope they have fun. We created great chances and scored very good goals. I was very satisfied. “
Edinson Cavani had a first start on an attractive United frontline that also featured Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, with the latter’s early flurry knocking out three defenders before a tame shot. He noted that United would not allow the capitulation to be repeated in Istanbul.
When Alexandru Epureanu inadvertently landed a corner kick from the left by Alex Telles, Fernandes landed with a sweet half volley from the edge of the area – the ball went over Gunok on the roof of the net for a perfect start in the seventh minute. .
In the first half, especially United, it was a whirlwind of energy and invention. Martial, operating from the left, lifted a ball that narrowly missed Cavani’s jump. Rashford then hit Gunok on the legs, but he was declared offside. Martial, Fernandes, Cavani and Donny van de Beek combined for Fernandes to shoot just outside Gunok’s goal.
As in Istanbul, the main danger for United seemed to be the possibility of self-harm and there was a warning when Demba Ba, who scored the first goal there, received the ball near the middle and was pushed by Victor Lindelöf after a loose play by Hospedadores.
Also when Berkay Ozca passed four United players and the ball went sideways to Visca, who should have done better than deflecting from De Gea’s goal.
Now it was Basaksehir who was punishing himself: Martial found Telles, whose cross was thrown by Gunok in Fernandes’ path. He scored his ninth in 13 games and has now been involved in 34 barely credible goals in 35 games, 21 of his own, 13 assists, 16 more than any teammate.
United’s third came when Lindelöf planted a 70-yard pass into Rashford’s path, Boli Bolingoli brought him down and a penalty was awarded.
After a lengthy VAR review in which the regular penalty taker Fernandes stood on the shot before passing the ball to Rashford, the latter converted easily to Gunok’s left.
In the second half, Lindelöf was replaced by Axel Tuanzebe, perhaps influencing the Swede’s recent back injury. Fernandes pushed United forward again with a breakneck run that ended with him passing the ball to Cavani. After the shimmy of No. 7, his shot went to a corner in front of Epureanu.
The corner came to nothing and De Gea was soon called into action when Basaksehir moved upfield, Visca cut from the left and unloaded a shot, forcing the Spaniard to save low to his right.
After a frantic call to Tuanzebe by United manager Kieran McKenna to “get closer to the post”, the resulting corner was cleared and the red jerseys continued to dominate. Fernandes threw a cross and Rafael Da Silva tossed the ball into Gunok’s hands.
Solskjær decided on a triple substitution with Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Daniel James replacing Rashford, Fernandes and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Greenwood instantly oozes class as he anticipates a pass from Visca, hitting the ball past Bolingoli and skidding into the box to claim a corner.
His header led to another corner that Maguire headed. There came a period of possession of Basaksehir in which the vocal organization of Tuanzebe made its mark in the empty stadium as United once again took control. In the end they were worthy victors, as James added a final quarter.
