FCSB 0-2 Man United, UEL: Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo Star As Red Devils Secure Last-16 Spot

Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo were on target as Manchester United confirmed their place in the Europa League last 16 with a 2-0 win at FCSB. (More Football News)

ꦰThe Red Devils came to life after a turgid first 45 minutes at Arena Nationala, with Dalot finishing from Mainoo's wicked low ball.

🌜Provider turned goalscorer when Mainoo brilliantly guided in from Alejandro Garnacho's centre in a game where United twice struck the woodwork and the hosts also hit the crossbar.

ꦕUnited were already extremely likely to go directly to the last-16 stage and three points in Bucharest means they finish third in the league-phase standings.

ꦯMihai Popescu guided wide from Risto Radunovic's free-kick when he ought to have scored before Mainoo blasted over from 12 yards after good work from Rasmus Hojlund, in an otherwise tepid first half.

🧔Garnacho, on as a second-half substitute, pounced on a loose back pass immediately after the restart but could only clip the right post when one-on-one with Stefan Tarnovanu.

ﷺBruno Fernandes then smashed the crossbar with a thunderous 35-yard drive before United made the breakthrough. A quick Amad Diallo throw-in from the right was played brilliantly across the face of goal by Mainoo and tapped in by Dalot.

🔥Daniel Birligea almost caught the visitors cold with a stunning long-range effort that whacked the underside of the bar – Florin Tanase headed the rebound wastefully wide but was offside anyway.

🎃United took control of the game when Garnacho's low centre from the left was slotted into the bottom-right corner from 12 yards by Mainoo, and they saw it out in relative comfort.

Data Debrief: Mainoo emulates Rooney

൩Mainoo was a clear dangerman for United throughout in Bucharest and finished with a goal and an assist on his first major European start.

🧔He becomes the first player to do that for the Red Devils since Wayne Rooney, the club's record goalscorer, did so back in September 2004 against Fenerbahce.

🔯Victory here represented a fifth straight win in the Europa League for United, having last put together as many in Europe's secondary competition between September 15 and November 3, 2022.

♔FCSB ensured a play-off spot in 11th, but they failed to score in four of their league-phase games. Only Ludogorets and Dynamo Kyiv (both five) have failed to score more often in the Europa League this season.