Man Utd v PAOK LIVE: Latest score as Amad Diallo stunner wraps up Europa League victory
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate match as United interim head coach secured a first win of the European campaign
A brace from Amad Diallo earned Manchester United a 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday, as interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy achieved what Erik ten Hag had failed to do with the club’s first victory in this season’s competition.
United had drawn their three previous Europa League games, but Diallo’s looping header back across the goal into the bottom corner from a Bruno Fernandes cross five minutes after the break sent Van Nistelrooy’s side on their way.
With both sides searching for their first win the Greek visitors to Old Trafford had their chances to take something from the game and United keeper Andre Onana had to tip over a shot from Mady Camara in the first half.
PAOK had an excellent opportunity to equalise in the 64th minute but the unmarked Taril Tissoudali could not get enough power in his shot from close range to beat Onana, and Diallo made sure of victory 13 minutes from time.
This time he did it all alone, dispossessing Baba Rahman and holding off the defender’s challenge to make his way to the edge of the area before unleashing a curling shot which took a slight deflection on its way into the far corner.
Van Nistelrooy, who will shortly make way for new manager Ruben Amorim, replaced the sacked Ten Hag 10 days ago and is unbeaten in his three games in charge.
United have six points in the Europa League standings.
Follow all the reaction from Man Utd v PAOK below.
Amad grabbing his chance in starting XI
Amad may have scored with his head but he is cementing his status as the best left-footed right winger at Old Trafford. The other, Antony, is back on the bench tonight, in what might be described as an injury boost, though not entirely truthfully. But Amad is seizing his chance.
Manchester United 1-0 PAOK
66 min: Rashford almost releases Amad through on goal, but his pass is cut out just before the winger can get hold of the ball and charge towards goal.
Manchester United 1-0 PAOK
63 min: A huge chance for PAOK! A wayward shot falls to the feet of Tarik Tissoudali six yards out, but somehow he manages to fluff his shot tamely to Onana when he simply had to score. What a miss.
Van Nistelrooy makes a triple substitution: Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen replace Garnacho, Ugarte and Dalot.
Manchester United 1-0 PAOK
60 min: Garnacho makes a brilliant dribble into the box and appears to be bullied off the ball unfairly, but the referee waves away the penalty claims.
Lisandro Martinez is preparing to come on, as is Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United 1-0 PAOK
56 min: Dalot has a pot shot from the edge of the box but it flies over the bar.
Manchester United 1-0 PAOK
52 min: Zivkovic goes up the other end and fires just wide, to remind United that PAOK are still in this game.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 PAOK (Amad, 50 min)
Finally, the breakthrough! Bruno Fernandes launches a deep cross into the area where perhaps the smallest player on the pitch leaps high to send a header across goal and in off the far post.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
47 min: Close! United surge forwards and Dalot is slipped in down the left side of the box. He goes to slide a pass for Bruno Fernandes arriving in a dangerous area, but it’s just cut out by a defender’s toe. A goal-saving interception.
Second half! Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
Back under way for the second half – no changes for either side.
Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
United finish the half on the front foot as Bruno Fernandes makes a good run into the box. He dummies to cross and then stops the ball dead near the right byline, throwing most of PAOK’s defence the wrong way, before setting the ball back for Amad. But the winger jumps over the ball thinking there must be a teammate arriving behind him, and there isn’t one.
A bit of a mess, and that’s half-time.
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