Manchester United comfortably edged Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 in their second Europa League match of the campaign.
It was Sheriff who started the game on the front foot, dominating possession for the first ten minutes.
United’s first attack came from Cristiano Ronaldo, but he returned possession to Sheriff, who had the first real chance of the half.
It was Mohammed Diop who shot from long range but did not hit the target.
Ronaldo had a point to prove to his new manager and was growing up in the game and causing the hosts problems with his movement.
However, it was Jadon Sancho who made the breakthrough after a fine reverse pass from Christian Eriksen.
Sancho expertly controlled it, feigning a shot to gain space before fitting it into the lower corner.
The sheriff tried to respond with cedric badolo whose effort from distance went narrowly wide with David de Gea entrenched in his place.
Diogo Dalot was subsequently brought down in the box by Patrick Kpozo just before half time and the referee signaled the penalty spot.
Ronaldo took a step forward and took 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 made his first chance go up in smoke.
At the other end, United kept their foot on the gas when 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 to break down the midfield.
Ronaldo’s goal gave him the confidence to try a long shot but it went flying over the crossbar.
Although Sheriff had chances, De Gea didn’t have much to do but in the 75th minute he was forced to stop after a shot from Badolo from distance.
United played a risky game in the closing stages. Casemiro fouled on the edge of the box and Sheriff had a chance to re-enter.
Sancho lay behind the United wall, but Badalo managed to get under the wall and forced De Gea to save.
United managed to hang on and earn their first win of the Europa League campaign.
Team: De Gea, Dalot (Shaw 70), Varane, Martinez (Maguire 90), Malaysia, McTominay (Casemiro 45), Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony (Garnacho 90), Sancho, Ronaldo (Elanga 81).
