Manchester United comfortably got past Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 in their second Europa League game of the campaign.
It was Sheriff that started the game on the front foot, dominating possession for the first ten minutes.
United’s first attack came from Cristiano Ronaldo but he gifted possession back to Sheriff who had the first real chance of the half.
It was Mouhamed Diop who took a long range shot but it failed to hit the target.
Ronaldo had a point to prove to his new manager and he was growing into the game and causing the hosts problems with his movement.
However, It was Jadon Sancho who made the breakthrough after Christian Eriksen‘s fine reverse pass.
Sancho controlled it expertly, faked a shot to make space for himself before slotting it into the bottom corner.
Sheriff tried to respond with Cedric Badolo whose effort from distance went narrowly wide with David de Gea rooted to his spot.
Diogo Dalot was subsequently brought down in the box by Patrick Kpozo just before half-time and the referee pointed to the spot.
Ronaldo stepped up and slotted it down the middle to make it 2-0 to United.
Sheriff came out fighting in the second half but Diop’s final-third decision making saw their first chance snuffle out.
At the other end, United weren’t letting their foot off the gas as Bruno Fernandes had a shot that was brilliantly saved by the keeper.
United took a breather and began to control the game as they began knocking it around the midfield.
Ronaldo’s goal gave him the confidence to try one from distance but it flew over the bar.
Although Sheriff had chances, De Gea did not have a lot to do but in the 75th minute he was forced into a save after Badolo took a long range shot.
United played a risky game in the closing stages. Casemiro fouled on the edge of the box and Sheriff had a chance to get back into it.
Sancho lay down behind the United wall but Badalo still managed to get under the wall and forced De Gea into a save.
United managed to hold on and pick up their first win of the Europa League campaign.
Team: de Gea, Dalot (Shaw 70), Varane, Martinez (Maguire 90), Malacia, McTominay (Casemiro 45), Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony (Garnacho 90), Sancho, Ronaldo (Elanga 81).
