Manchester United put their UEFA Europa League (UEL) opening defeat behind them with a comfortable 2-0 away victory over Sheriff Tiraspol.
Having won each of their last three matches ‘to nil’ – including a 3-0 UEL victory over Omonia Nicosia – Sheriff fans were hopeful of a rather unlikely win over Manchester United.
However, those hopes were quickly dashed when the heavy favourites took an early lead. Christian Eriksen produced the assist popping the ball into Jadon Sancho, who cut back before firing past Maksym Koval.
After being omitted from the latest England squad, Sancho clearly had something to prove, and he almost doubled his tally for the night but for a sliding goal-line clearance from Sheriff captain Stjepan Radeljić.
Yet, just minutes later, United had a penalty following a clumsy challenge from Patrick Kpozo on Diogo Dalot, allowing Ronaldo to fire his first goal of the campaign from the spot. The spot-kick is the 699th club goal of his illustrious career.
The Red Devils looked firmly in control of the game, coming close to a third when Dalot picked out Bruno Fernandes’ late run into the box, but Koval was equal to the low effort.
A couple of half-chances from lyayi Atiemwen in the first half was as close as the hosts had come to finding the net until Rasheed Akanbi attempted to loft the ball over an advanced David de Gea. The Moldovan side remained in the contest as the FT whistle drew closer but, despite a solid showing, rarely troubled Erik ten Hag’s rearguard.
Victory kick-starts United’s UEL campaign ahead of back-to-back fixtures with group minnows Omonia Nicosia.
Meanwhile, Sheriff will have to pick themselves up over the international break before hosting Group E leaders Real Sociedad.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
