ZORYA 0-2 UNITED
That's all from our matchday blog; thanks for joining us! United have progressed to the knockout stages of the Europa League, on what was a memorable night for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
We'll be back on Sunday, when the Reds host Tottenham at Old Trafford in the Premier League. Goodbye for now!
We'll be back on Sunday, when the Reds host Tottenham at Old Trafford in the Premier League. Goodbye for now!
Result: Man of the Match
The votes have been counted and the results are in...
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been named tonight's Man of the Match, with 77% of the votes on Twitter.
(2nd - Eric Bailly 15%, 3rd - Sergio Romero 8%)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been named tonight's Man of the Match, with 77% of the votes on Twitter.
(2nd - Eric Bailly 15%, 3rd - Sergio Romero 8%)
Zlatan on MUTV
"It wasn't an easy game. The pitch wasn't the best and it was cold, but it's not an excuse. We had to work hard, and in the end we got the win we needed. The first goal was magnificent, Micki had control all the way and it was beautiful. I'm very happy for him, I know he'll continue."
More from Mourinho...
Mourinho: "We played well tonight. One thing is to play badly and get back results, which killls confidence and is more difficult to cope with. When you play well, you have to hope the results will come. The reality is nobody was better than us [in recent weeks], even though we had disappointing results. And in the players' brains, that plays a part."
Jose's verdict
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the manager said: "We had the ball, we had the control. They were defensively good, they had a couple of occasions on the counter-attack and at a free-kick, but we were dominant and if you look at the numbers, we were the team to win. But yes, they were good enough to give us a difficult match."
Ibra's impact
It's now 13 goals in total for Zlatan this season!
Reaction coming up...
Make sure you stick around for reaction from the United dressing room, at the end of a positive evening for the Reds. We'll also be announcing the result of our Man of the Match vote on Twitter shortly...
Full-time stats
Possession: Zorya 29% United 71%
Shots: Zorya 6 United 19
Shots on target: Zorya 2 United 7
Corners: Zorya 2 United 9
Shots: Zorya 6 United 19
Shots on target: Zorya 2 United 7
Corners: Zorya 2 United 9
Rivals Watch
Elsewhere, it's finished Feyenoord 0-1 Fenerbahce, meaning United go through as runners-up. We'll discover our opponents for the next round when the draw is made on Monday.
FT: Zorya 0 United 2 (Mkhitaryan 48', Ibrahimovic 88')
It's all over! United progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League, courtesy of goals from Mkhitaryan and Ibrahimovic. Job done!
90+2: It might be late in the game, but Pogba's just burst past two defenders as if it was only the first minute. Great energy from the midfielder!
Yellow card
89' - Bailly goes into the book after pulling back Bonaventure. We're into three minutes of added time...
GOAL! Zorya 0 United 2 (Ibrahimovic 88')
Game over! Zlatan puts the icing on the cake, finishing well after being played through on goal by Pogba. Yes!
Substitution for United
84' - A final change for the Reds, as goalscorer Mkhitaryan is replaced by Tim Fosu-Mensah. United are cruising towards victory here...
Yellow card
83' - Ander Herrera becomes the first player to enter the referee's notebook, after a late challenge in midfield.
82' - OH! Zlatan unleashes a fierce strike from the edge of the area, which goes just over the crossbar. That would have been some goal!
Rivals Watch
In the other game in Group A, it's still Feyenoord 0-1 Fenerbahce. As things stand, the Reds will finish as runners-up.
PIC: The all-important moment
Just over 10 minutes to go in Odessa. Mkhitaryan's goal still separates the sides, meaning United are on course to progress to the knockout stages.
76' - At the other end, Mkhitaryan's free-kick finds Fellaini at the far post, but the substitute heads over the bar.
74' - SAVE! Romero saves superbly from Sivakov, who had risen highest to meet a dangerous free-kick. The Reds won't want to concede at this stage in the game...
Substitution for Zorya
73' - A third and final swap for Zorya: Ljubenovic off, Lapartia on.
72' - Fortunately, Bailly is back on the pitch and able to continue. With Rooney now on the bench, Young has taken the captain's armband for the final 18 minutes.
Substitution for United
70' - It's Rooney off, Fellaini on, as Mourinho makes a second change. Meanwhile, Bailly is down and in need of treatment.
PIC: Herrera battling hard
Substitution for United
65' - A first substitution for the Reds, as Jesse Lingard replaces Mata in midfield.
Henrikh's heroics
It's not the first time Mkhitaryan has made an impact on this ground. The Armenian also scored a hat-trick here for Shakhtar Donetsk in August 2012...
61' - ManUtd.com's James Tuck: "United are bossing this game now and a second goal looks very possible. Meanwhile, a Mexican wave has broken out around the stadium, instigated by a loud drum. With Zorya only playing for pride, I guess their fans are going to enjoy this last Europa League game, whatever the result."
58' - The Reds go close to a second, as Ibrahimovic stings the palms of Levchenko, who gathers the ball at the second attempt. Just over half an hour to go here.
Substitution for Zorya
57' - The hosts make a second change, as Grechyshkin comes on for Kharatin.
Substitution for Zorya
55' - It's a change up front for the home side: Bezborodko off, Bonaventure on.
53' - More on the goal: Rojo pinched the ball in midfield and laid it off for Mkhitaryan, who went on a mazy run, nutmegging Forster before slotting the ball into the corner. United are now in search of a second...
50' - No prizes for guessing whose name is being chanted by the travelling fans in Odessa! That goal has given the Reds a real lift; a perfect start to the second half...
GOAL! Zorya 0 United 1 (Mkhitaryan 48')
What a goal! Henrikh Mkhitaryan puts the Reds in front, producing a great run and finish to claim his first United goal. Get in!
Match Restarts
Match Restarts
46' - The hosts get the game back under way. Come on, United!
Match Restarts
Second half coming up...
The teams have just come back out of the tunnel, and we're just moments from rejoining the action. There's an important half of football ahead for United - let's hope we get the job done!
PIC: All square
Analysis from Odessa
ManUtd.com’s James Tuck: “United have struggled to fashion many clear-cut chances but conditions are tough and we shouldn’t underestimate Zorya, who held both Fenerbahce and Feyenoord here. I’m still confident the breakthrough will come at some point.”
Half-time stats
Possession: Zorya 24% United 76%
Shots: Zorya 3 United 10
Shots on target: Zorya 1 United 3
Corners: Zorya 0 United 7
Shots: Zorya 3 United 10
Shots on target: Zorya 1 United 3
Corners: Zorya 0 United 7
HT: Zorya 0 United 0
It's been one-way traffic, but the sides go in level at the break. Rooney's effort on the stroke of half-time was the closest the Reds have come to a goal, while Zorya have created a couple of chances of their own. As it stands, United are through...
45' - Rooney has another go, and this time it has Levchenko scrambling across his goal. The striker unleashed a wicked effort, which the keeper tipped over.
42' - It's still United doing all the pressing, but still Zorya are standing strong. As I type, Rooney forces a save from Levchenko, but it was fairly straightforward for the home keeper.
39' - United attack in numbers once again, but Bailly's acrobatic effort is easily collected by Levchenko. Just over five minutes to go until half-time.
37' - A decent opening for the home side, as Karavaev volleys towards goal, but sees his effort drop narrowly wide of Romero's left-hand post. Moments later, Mata's chip just misses the target, but it wouldn't have counted anyway, as the offside flag had been raised.
35' - ManUtd.com's James Tuck: "It's fascinating to watch Mkhitaryan's movement during a game. He's one of those players who takes up awkward positions in between defence and midfield, and some of his touches tonight have been superb. Bailly, meanwhile, looks like he has never been away."
33' - Pogba tries his luck from distance again, but this time screws his effort well wide. To their credit, Zorya are doing a decent job of limiting the Reds at the moment.
30' - Fifteen minutes to go until the break, then, and it remains 0-0 in Odessa. Mourinho's men have had a massive 69% possession so far, but will want a goal to show for it.
28' - Herrera wins the ball back again and picks out fellow countryman Mata, but the latter's pass is over-hit, and goes out for a goal kick.
26' - More pressure from United results in a fourth corner for the Reds, but it's cleared comfortably. Zorya seem to have settled in the last five minutes or so.
Rivals Watch
24' - Elsewhere in Group A, it's Feyenoord 0-1 Fenerbahce, following Moussa Sow's strike. Good news for the Reds.
20' - The Reds are producing some nice, one-touch passing in midfield, but all 10 of Zorya's outfield players are defending deep, and it's proving tough to break the hosts down. As I type, United win a corner...
18' - CHANCE! Ibrahimovic finds Pogba on the edge of the Zorya area, and the Frenchman's powerful effort whistles just wide of the post. United are getting closer...
17' - ManUtd.com's James Tuck: "Apart from those pockets of noise at either end, it's a fairly subdued atmosphere here - in complete contrast to United's last European away game in Istanbul at the start of November. It's one less thing for the Reds to deal with."
15' - It's still goalless with a quarter of an hour played, but the Reds are well on top. Mourinho will be eager to see his players capitalise, though, with that earlier shot from Kharatin the closest either side has come.
12' - Well played! Ander Herrera tracks back to win possession and kick-start another United attack, which eventually sees the midfielder's volley easily saved.
10' - SAVE! A first real opportunity for Zorya ends in Kharatin's goal-bound effort being palmed away well by Romero. That was a warning sign for the Reds.
08' - Pogba has a go from range - probably around 30 yards out - but it's not enough to trouble the Zorya keeper.
06' - ManUtd.com's James Tuck: "There's a small band of Zorya fans chanting and jumping up and down behind Romero's goal. You have to give them credit for making the 1,200-mile round trip to watch their team play in Europe this season. At the other end, United's 937 fans are making themselves heard as well."
05' - The Reds almost fashion the game's first chance, as Mata receives the ball in space and looks for Ibrahimovic, but the Spaniard's pass is collected by Levchenko in the Zorya goal.
03' - It's United who have made the brighter start here. Mourinho's men are already looking to dictate the tempo in midfield through Pogba and Herrera.
Match Started
Kick-off
01' - The Reds get the game under way. Come on, lads!
Match Started
Here come the teams!
The players are in the tunnel at Chornomorets Stadium. Can the Reds progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League? We're about to find out...
Rooney: record-breaker?
A reminder that Wayne Rooney (248) is just one goal behind Sir Bobby Charlton (249) on the list of United's all-time top scorers. Could tonight be the night he sets the club record?
Kick-off approaching
The players have now returned to their respective dressing rooms, with a little under 15 minutes to go until kick-off. It's almost time for action!
Live from Odessa
ManUtd.com's James Tuck: "There's an interesting version of the #OTplaylist blaring out around the stadium at the moment. What I can only describe as Ukraine's answer to the Manchester United Calypso was followed by AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell'."
Warm-ups under way
ManUtd.com's James Tuck: "The players have just come out to warm up - and they'll certainly need to do that. The stadium is about a quarter full and the pitch looks in better condition than last night."
Pre-match stats
United have had more possession (60.3%) than any other team in the Europa League this season.
Jose: Tonight is crucial
Jose Mourinho: "Tonight is crucial moment, despite it being a group stage. Let's try to win but knowing a point is enough."
The away end...
This is where the travelling fans will be located this evening. Plenty of Reds have made the long journey to Ukraine, and will undoubtedly be in great voice, as always.
As it stands...
Here's the current situation in Group A. The Reds will be favourites to pick up a win tonight, though a draw would guarantee passage through to the knockout stages, regardless of the result between Feyenoord and Fenerbahce in the other group game.
View from the press box
We're in place here at Chornomorets Stadium, with just under an hour to go until kick-off. It's a bitterly cold evening in Odessa; the Reds will have to adjust quickly to the conditions.
Six changes for United
Here's more on the Reds' six changes this evening, including a return for Eric Bailly, who's been named in the starting line-up: http://bit.ly/2h7vthx
ZORYA XI
Zorya: Levchenko; Opansenko, Sivakov, Forster, Sukhotskiy; Karavaev, Kharatin, Chaykovskiy, Petriak; Ljubenovic (c); Bezborodko.
Subs: Shevchenko, Kulach, Lipartia, Paulinho, Grechyshkin, Bonaventure, Checher.
Subs: Shevchenko, Kulach, Lipartia, Paulinho, Grechyshkin, Bonaventure, Checher.
UNITED XI
Micki: We're here to win
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: "We are not going to play for a draw. We will try to win and be ready for the next game [against Tottenham on Sunday] as well.
Team news coming up
We'll have news of both starting line-ups for you shortly - don't go anywhere! For now, check out who's made the trip to Eastern Europe: http://bit.ly/2h5z3Zn
United in Odessa
Firstly, why not take a look at how the players have been preparing, with updates from ManUtd.com reporters Gemma Thompson and James Tuck: http://bit.ly/2gg1hEk
Zorya Luhansk v United
Hello and welcome to our matchday blog, ahead of the Reds' crucial Europa League Group A clash against Zorya Luhansk. I'm Ryan Grant, and I'll be your guide to tonight's game in Ukraine.
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