Manchester United enjoyed a first Europa League win of the season over Greek champions PAOK at Old Trafford on Thursday, in what was Ruud van Nistelrooy's penultimate game in charge.
United were striving to avoid breaking a club record for the longest European win-less streak in their history, having not won in six games at the continental level since Harry Maguire's solitary goal beat Copenhagen in the Champions League group stage over a year ago.
But two goals from the hugely impressive Amad Diallo in the second half meant the run wasn't extended to seven, firing United up the standings and kickstarting the season at the perfect time.
How the game unfolded
It was clear from the start that United would be the dominant force and control the majority of possession, with PAOK satisfied to dig in defensively and break when possible. That approach actually yielded the first real chance of the night when Casemiro did just enough to block Mady Camara's goal-bound strike in side the opening seven minutes.
The hosts thought they deserved a penalty as pressure built, with Amad surging to the touchline inside the box and upended by contact from former Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman. It wasn't awarded in real time, but a VAR review didn't change that ruling.
With just over half an hour gone, Baba foiled Amad again, managing to just get in front of the winger and turn a dangerous low cross from Alejandro Garnacho over the bar.
United went inside at the interval disappointed not to have properly tested visiting goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, with Amad guilty of dummying a Bruno Fernandes cutback with no teammate behind him and when a shot was on with the final attack of the half. Audible groans came from the stands. Meanwhile Andre Onana had earlier needed to be on his toes in the closing stages to parry a speculative Camara effort over the bar after the ball sat up nicely for the PAOK man 20 yards out.
Whatever Van Nistelrooy said at half-time worked because United started the second half with intensity and were quickly rewarded. Amad shrugged off his isolated gaffe right before the break and took up an excellent position at the far post, straining his neck to reach Bruno Fernandes' teasing cross and redirect the ball with his head over Kotarski.
Kotarski was equal to it with Amad's next effort, rushing out to narrow the angle as the United winger shot from the right. There were also more penalty appeals at the hour mark, this time from Garnacho, who danced infield from the left and went down under pressure from Jonny. The referee was un-moved and replays suggested Garnacho's shooting leg may have caught the defender as he swung it down to strike the ball, rather than the other way round.
But United were given a huge let off when Tarik Tissoudali squandered a glorious chance to equalise. The PAOK striker somehow ended up with the ball at his feet in acres of space near the penalty spot, and yet lacked the conviction with the shot to ask more than a routine save of Onana.
If Amad's first goal was the result of impressive improvisation, his second was exceptional work ethic combined with lethal ability. The Ivorian pressed to win the ball high up the pitch himself, outmuscling Baba to keep hold of it, and then unleashed a curling left-footed shot into the far corner.
Substitute Marcus Rashford was narrowly wide of the target in stoppage time after a free-flowing move that would have capped off an overall productive night for the team.
Man Utd player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Andre Onana - 7/10 - Made the handful of saves that he needed to at important times without ever being consistently busy.
RB: Noussair Mazraoui - 6/10 - Solid display in and out of possession.
CB: Victor Lindelof - 6/10 - A good outing to further build his match fitness. Challenged but not too much.
CB: Jonny Evans - 7/10 - Continues to defy father time with his performances.
LB: Diogo Dalot - 6/10 - Decent enough. Blazed a shot well over the bar from a good position.
CM: Casemiro - 7/10 - Made a big early block that prevented PAOK taking a shock lead. Clever in possession the way he received the ball and quickly laid if off under pressure.
CM: Manuel Ugarte - 5/10 - Not as impressively fierce or tenacious off the ball as he has been in a few recent games. Gave it away more than usual too.
RM: Amad Diallo - 9/10 - Looked keen to make the most of his first start in over a month and certainly grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Scored two very different types of goal, both of the highest quality.
AM: Bruno Fernandes (c) - 7/10 - Things didn't quite click for him in the first but the cross to Amad to open the scoring was superb. Six assists for the season now.
LM: Alejandro Garnacho - 7/10 - Probably not as invovled or effective as Amad, but still gave PAOK questions to answer and was a creative presence.
ST: Rasmus Hojlund - 5/10 - This was a tough evening with little direct service and few touches.
Substitutes
SUB: Marcus Rashford (65' for Garnacho) - 6/10
SUB: Christian Eriksen (65' for Ugarte) - 6/10
SUB: Lisandro Martinez (65' for Dalot) - 6/10
SUB: Mason Mount (82' for Amad) - N/A
SUB: Joshua Zirkzee (90' for Hojlund) - N/A
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (GK), Tom Heaton (GK), Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Amass, Jayce Fitzgerald, Mason Mount, Antony, Ethan Wheatley.
Manager
Ruud van Nistelrooy - 8/10 - Opted for some rotation and was certainly rewarded by handing a chance to Amad. Seemed to have a direct impact given how United were playing with much more intensity immediately after the interval.
Player of the match - Amad Diallo (Man Utd)
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