Match ends, Zorya Luhansk 0, Manchester United 2.
Zorya Luhansk 0-2 Manchester United
- From the section Football
Manchester United reached the Europa League knockout stages by beating Zorya Luhansk as Henrikh Mkhitaryan struck a fine first goal for the club.
The Red Devils dominated but long-range efforts from Wayne Rooney and Paul Pogba were their best moments despite having 76% of first-half possession.
But Mkhitaryan, who has now started three games in a row, dribbled from halfway to apply a cool finish after the break.
A key save from Sergio Romero maintained the lead before Zlatan Ibrahimovic raced clear to slot home as United progressed behind Fenerbahce, who won at Feyenoord.
In Monday's draw, United will now face any of the other Europa League group winners or FC Copenhagen, Lyon or Besiktas, who all enter the last-32 of the Europa League having exited the Champions League.
The good news for Manchester United fans
Jose Mourinho's side ground out a first win away from home in the Europa League on a pitch he described as "difficult" leading up to the fixture.
Though their final ball was often slack - leading to some visible Mourinho frustration in the first half - they stuck to the task, none more so than Mkhitaryan, who showed balance and poise to create his goal.
His haul of a goal and two assists in his run of three starts begs the question as to why Mourinho has not used him regularly since a £26m summer move. But United fans are starting to see the type of quality which saw him named Bundesliga players' player of the season ahead of his move to Old Trafford.
More plus points arrive in the fact players such as David De Gea and Anthony Martial were rested, while Ibrahimovic is gathering momentum - his late finish was his fifth goal in four matches.
The sight of central defender Eric Bailly completing a fixture for the first time since October will also please Mourinho. The Ivorian - out with a knee injury since October - looked composed, decisive and even shook off a nasty collision to continue late on.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Zorya Luhansk
- 91Levchenko
- 39Opanasenko
- 3Sivakov
- 12Forster
- 2Sukhotsky
- 20Karavayev
- 4Chaykovsky
- 8KharatinSubstituted forGrechyshkinat 57'minutes
- 7Petryak
- 22LjubenovicSubstituted forLipartiaat 72'minutes
- 21BezborodkoSubstituted forBonaventureat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shevchenko
- 9Kulach
- 10Lipartia
- 11de Menezes Melo
- 24Grechyshkin
- 42Bonaventure
- 44Checher
Man Utd
- 20Romero
- 18Young
- 3BaillyBooked at 90mins
- 5Rojo
- 17Blind
- 21HerreraBooked at 83mins
- 6Pogba
- 8MataSubstituted forLingardat 65'minutes
- 10RooneySubstituted forFellainiat 70'minutes
- 22MkhitaryanSubstituted forFosu-Mensahat 85'minutes
- 9Ibrahimovic
Substitutes
- 1de Gea
- 4Jones
- 11Martial
- 14Lingard
- 19Rashford
- 24Fosu-Mensah
- 27Fellaini
- Referee:
- Tamás Bognar
Match Stats
Home TeamZorya LuhanskAway TeamMan Utd
- Possession
- Home29%
- Away71%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away7
- Corners
- Home2
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away8
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Zorya Luhansk 0, Manchester United 2.
Eric Bailly (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jaba Lipartia (Zorya Luhansk).
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Igor Levchenko.
Attempt saved. Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Manchester United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Booking
Eric Bailly (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Corner, Zorya Luhansk. Conceded by Marcos Rojo.
Goal!
Goal! Zorya Luhansk 0, Manchester United 2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba with a through ball.
Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).
Jaba Lipartia (Zorya Luhansk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Timothy Fosu-Mensah replaces Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Igor Chaykovsky (Zorya Luhansk).
Booking
Ander Herrera (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Ander Herrera (Manchester United).
Dennis Bonaventure (Zorya Luhansk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Sergio Romero.
Offside, Zorya Luhansk. Evgeniy Opanasenko tries a through ball, but Ivan Petryak is caught offside.
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
Igor Levchenko (Zorya Luhansk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Rafael Forster.
Attempt blocked. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Paul Pogba.
Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a headed pass.
Foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United).
Mikhail Sivakov (Zorya Luhansk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan following a set piece situation.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mikhail Sivakov (Zorya Luhansk).
Attempt missed. Igor Chaykovsky (Zorya Luhansk) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dmytro Grechyshkin with a cross.
Corner, Zorya Luhansk. Conceded by Marouane Fellaini.
Attempt saved. Mikhail Sivakov (Zorya Luhansk) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dmytro Grechyshkin with a cross.
Foul by Jesse Lingard (Manchester United).
Artem Sukhotsky (Zorya Luhansk) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Zorya Luhansk. Jaba Lipartia replaces Zeljko Ljubenovic.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Marouane Fellaini replaces Wayne Rooney.
Delay in match Eric Bailly (Manchester United) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Dennis Bonaventure (Zorya Luhansk) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Igor Chaykovsky.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Juan Mata.