Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff Tiraspol: Cristiano Ronaldo scores on return as United qualify for Europa League knockout stage

It was a good day for Manchester United as they qualified for the knockout stage of the Europa League with a win.

After being left out of the starting line-up for Saturday's draw with Chelsea due to his behavior in last week's win over Spurs,Ronaldo was restored to the starting line-up and scored the third goal of the game from close range after his initial effort had been saved

Diogo Dalot headed United in front from a corner on the stroke of half-time and Marcus Rashford doubled the lead after coming on in the second half.

Man Utd player ratings

Man Utd: De Gea (6), Dalot (7), Lindelof (6), Martinez (6), Malacia (7), Casemiro (7), Eriksen (8), Fernandes (7), Antony (6), Garnacho (7), Ronaldo (7).

Subs: Maguire (6), Rashford (7), Shaw (7), McTominay (6), Van de Beek (n/a).

Man of the match: Christian Eriksen.

After the match, Ten Hag was asked about it. The team made something for him.

We know we have the ability to complete it. I think he needs a goal to get over a dead point.

The result sees United qualify for the round of 16, but Real Sociedad's 2-0 victory over Omonia Nicosia in Thursday's other Group E fixture means Ten Hag's team must win by at least two goals in Spain on November 3 to top the group and avoid a play off round against

Alejandro Garnacho made his full debut and impressed so much that he left to a standing ovation. After producing a stepover and darting forward, the 18-year-old received applause fromRonaldo after seeing a cross cut out.

The stand-in skipper's headed effort was saved by Maxym Koval as the onslaught continued, and the forward tried to meet the ball but was denied by the keeper.

The visitors threatened a shock opener after the Sheriff's goalkeeper denied Christian Eriksen from distance. There was a collective sigh of relief when Patrick Kpozo crossed from the left and Ibrahim Akanbi was not in the box.

Man Utd team news

After Saturday's draw with Chelsea, Manchester United's coach made four changes to his team.

The injured Raphael Varane was replaced by Victor Lindelof.

Alejandro Garnacho made his first United start on the left wing.

It would have been a huge moment in Sheriff's history and appeared to spark United into life. Dalot headed in a corner from the left in the 44th minute. Ten Hag made a couple of changes at the half-time break.

Lisandro was replaced by Harry, who came on for his first United appearance since the trip to Moldova. His unnecessary showboating on the ball was the most talked about contribution from this match.

If you want a more accessible video player, please use the chrome browser.

The one-way traffic continued as Eriksen struck a free-kick into the Stretford End, which was again collecting the ball afterRonaldo hit narrowly wide from the edge of the box. The man stood with his hands on his hips in disbelief as the song began to play.

In the 61st minute, a move involving an exquisite Garnacho touch ended with the Portugal internationalrifling home from close range, but he was ruled out for a foul. The player kicked the ball away in anger.

Scott McTominay and Shaw were introduced as United pushed for a second that the latter was key in, floating a fine cross from the left for MarcusRashford to head home. A low shot was pushed wide and Garnacho went close before the World Cup hopeful left to applause.

The fans had been waiting for the goal that they had been waiting for, and they got it in the 81st minute. He fired in the loose ball after Koval denied him when he found a Bruno Fernandes cross.

As the clock wound down on a straightforward win, there were more chances but no goals. The victory sets up a key clash in Spain next Thursday, when United will attempt to steal a march on Real Sociedad in Group E.

The manager of Manchester United said it was ok. It took a bit for us to get that goal but we deserved it.

We scored two more good goals from open play in the second half and I was happy with the clean sheet. It was focused and focused on the task at hand.

The second and third goals we did well, could still be done better. We scored.

"We have to go there and score by two goals," said Marcus Rashford. We need to score goals but not allow them to get away. It is going to be a hard game, but I am looking forward to it.

We're getting there after a lot of hard work.

Opta stats: Rashford approaching landmark

• Manchester United have won each of their previous four games in the Europa League group stage. It's their longest such run since a run of six between November 2016 and October 2017.
• Manchester United's win over Sheriff Tiraspol was just the third time in 2022 they've won consecutive games at Old Trafford, doing so in January and August/September also.
• Diogo Dalot scored his first Manchester United goal in 52 appearances, since netting against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup in January 2020.
• Marcus Rashford's goal, his 99th for Manchester United, was their eighth by a substitute in all competitions this season, with no other Premier League side scoring more (Liverpool also 8).
• Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 23rd European goal for Manchester United, and his first at Old Trafford in all competitions since May against Brentford, ending a run of six games on home soil without a goal.
• Christian Eriksen created six chances for Manchester United tonight, one of which was for Diogo Dalot's goal, his most in a single game in European club competition since February 2017 for Tottenham against KAA Gent in the Europa League (7).

Sky Sports will show Manchester United's game against West ham on Super Sunday at 4.15pm.

They will play Real Sociedad in the final game of the group stage on November 3.