admin
PARIS. — Manchester United avoided further embarrassment after their humiliating defeat to Manchester City by coming from behind to beat Cypriots Omonia Nicosia 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday night, while English Premier League football leaders Arsenal eased past Bodo/Glimt.
Marcus Rashford scored twice along with Anthony Martial after both came off the bench in the second half as United recovered after Iran international Karim Ansarifard gave the hosts a shock lead on 34 minutes.
Nikolas Panagiotou pulled one back for Neil Lennon’s Omonia with five minutes to play but United held on for a second win in three Group E outings.
“Job done, but we would have liked to have played better.
“We didn’t defend badly, but we made mistakes,” Rashford told BT Sport. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was an unused substitute for United’s 6-3 loss at City last weekend, played the full 90 minutes as he made just his fourth start for the club this season.
Erik ten Hag’s side remain second in the group behind Real Sociedad, who made it three straight wins with a 2-0 victory against 10-man Sheriff Tiraspol in Chisinau.
Former City star David Silva broke the deadlock shortly after halftime and Aritz Elustondo doubled the lead following Moussa Kyabou’s red card on the hour. Arsenal saw off Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium courtesy of first-half goals from Eddie Nketiah and Rob Holding, and Fabio Vieira’s goal six minutes from time.
The Gunners are top of Group A after back-to-back wins.
Their clash with PSV Eindhoven last month was rescheduled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Yorbe Vertessen and Cody Gakpo both struck twice as PSV Eindhoven thumped FC Zurich 5-1 in Switzerland.
Former Paris Saint-Germain youngster Xavi Simons also scored as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team sit two points back of the Gunners.
Surprise Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin won 1-0 at Malmo in a game that was interrupted because of crowd trouble in the second half.
The referee ordered players off the pitch as fans launched smoke bombs, but play eventually resumed and Sheraldo Becker delivered the winning goal.
Gustaf Nilsson was the star for Union St Gilloise, netting twice as a late substitute in a 2-1 victory at Braga as the Belgians took control of Group D.
Monaco forward Wissam Ben Yedder bagged a pair of goals, the second from the penalty spot, in his side’s 3-1 home win over Trabzonspor.
The Turkish team were reduced to 10 men early on when Maxi Gomez lashed out at Mohamed Camara.
Ben Yedder’s brace had Monaco leading 2-0 before Axel Disasi added a third, with Anastasios Bakasetas grabbing a consolation.
Monaco are second in Group H but level on points with leaders Ferencvaros, whose perfect start was ended emphatically as Red Star Belgrade beat the Hungarians 4-1 in Belgrade. Desire Doue’s late goal gave Rennes a 2-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv in Group B, while Fenerbahce defeated AEK Larnaca of Cyprus 2-0.
Guido Rodriguez and Luiz Henrique scored as Real Betis won 2-1 at Jose Mourinho’s Roma, whose side had led through Paulo Dybala’s penalty.
Lazio drew 0-0 at Austria’s Sturm Graz and Freiburg overcame Nantes 2-0.
Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca hit a late winner for West Ham as they beat Anderlecht 1-0 in Belgium in the Europa Conference League.
David Moyes’ Hammers have a maximum nine points in Group B, where Silkeborg picked up their first with a 5-0 rout of Romanians FCSB.
On-loan Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe got the only goal for Nice in a 1-0 victory away to Czech outfit Slovacko.
Fiorentina swept Hearts aside 3-0 in Edinburgh. Jose Luis Morales’ hat-trick capped off a 5-0 win for Villarreal over Austria Vienna.
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said striker Nketiah has made terrific progress over the last couple of years but there is still room for improvement.
Nketiah put Arsenal ahead in the 23rd minute of their 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday, with Holding and Vieira also getting on the scoresheet.
Nketiah, 23, has two goals and an assist in 10 games in all competitions for Arsenal this season.
“Obviously his work rate, attitude and application is just phenomenal but he’s got this natural ability (to score) and he does it every time,” Arteta told reporters. “I am really happy to have him in the team. He has the qualities to play for this team in any role — as a starter, finisher, however you call him. — AFP.
Online Reporter