Omonia vs. Man United result, highlights & analysis as Rashford and Martial come to Ten Hag's rescue

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Dan Gibbs
• 16 min read

Manchester United came from a goal down to beat Omonia in Europa League action as substitutes Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial came to Erik ten Hag's rescue with the goals. The former bagged a brace and the latter bagged a critical strike to send the Red Devils through to victory.

United enjoyed utter domination in the opening 20 minutes with 82% possession, taking eight shots on goal and completing 220 passes in comparison to Omonia's 51.

Yet for all their pressure in and around Omonia's box they couldn't find the back of the net with Ronaldo and Antony both coming the closest to scoring in the opening 45, only for goalkeeper Fabinho to deny them with impressive saves.

Tyrell Malacia was taken off at half-time in the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City at the weekend and suffered the same fate tonight after he lost the ball in Omonia's half that led to a brilliant counter-attacking goal from the home side. Bruno Felipe picked the ball up and ran, and with United outnumbered, he played the perfect pass to Karim Ansarifard who took a touch and rifled his shot past De Get.

Ten Hag made changes of his own as Rashford and Martial were introduced in the second half with both players making immediate impacts.

Rashford ended the night with two goals and an assist, as Martial did what Ronaldo couldn't all night, and found the back of the net with an impressive finish on 63 minutes. 

Omonia mounted a late comeback of their own with five minutes to go through Nikolas Panayiotou after his instant reply to Rashford's second a minute earlier. But the Red Devils held on to take a vital three points and put themselves on course for the knockout stages.

Ronaldo's wait for a 700th goal continues 

This week, Ten Hag said Ronaldo is "p*ssed off when he's not playing." Well, you could argue he'll be even more p*ssed off after tonight having failed to find the back of the net. The Portuguese is one goal short of reaching a ridiculous 700 club goal milestone but tonight, against what was supposed to be easy opposition, it just wasn't going to happen.

The 37-year-old looked lively throughout the first half but was denied by Fabinho with a strong save from a powerful shot at a tight angle and as the game went on Ronaldo saw more opportunities go begging.

He hit the post from six yards out when it seemed harder to miss, he blasted a free-kick over the bar, found the side netting and curled one a few inches wide of the post in the dying minutes. Diogo Dalot set up the chance, although it appeared the Portuguese full-back had a big chance to score himself, passing up the chance to slide into an open net to instead find Ronaldo on the doorstep.

Ronaldo did create a neat assist, though some could say he was going for goal himself, to set up Rashford for his second. It saw the former Real Madrid man all smiles (cheeky ones, it appeared) but deep down he'll be frustrated he didn't reach that 700 mark and prove a point to Ten Hag that he should never have been left out of facing City.

Rashford and Martial finding form

If you needed any indication that Rashford is getting back to his best then how about already matching his goal tally (5) from last season. Maybe it's to do with a World Cup coming up, maybe it's a new lease of life under a new management. Whatever it is, Rashford looks hungry to prove a point. He linked up brilliantly with Ronaldo at times and once Martial was introduced to the attacking front line, the England forward was the focal point that made things tick up front. 

"Left side is probably more natural for me, but I like playing both [left wing and centre forward] and helping the team," Rashford said. "If we have got injuries you never know what might happen, where you might be needed to play."

He was also complimentary of Martial, who followed up his brace against City on the weekend with another from the bench tonight. "He is a massive player for us, has been for a long time," Rashford said. "When he is happy and at it he is an unbelievable player. We've both been injured, him longer than me, so it is good for him to get minutes and make an impact."

This will give Ten Hag a second thought while putting together future lineups, as Jadon Sancho was notably invisible through his first-half appearance before being hauled off at the break.

MORE: Man United and another derby mess: Erik ten Hag must fix three problems after defeat to Man City

Omonia vs. Manchester United final score

  1H 2H Final
Omonia 1 1 2
Man Utd 0 3 3

Goals:

34th min — OMO  — Ansarifard
53rd min — MUN — Rashford
63rd min — MUN — Martial
84th min — MUN — Rashford
85th min — OMO — Panaiotou

Omonia vs. Manchester United live updates, highlights from Europa League

FULL-TIME: Omonia 2-3 Manchester United 

90th min +4: Shaw picks up a yellow card for a foul.

90th min: Ronaldo again gets into space but is pounced upon by the defence and is too slow to get his shot away.

89th min: Instructions from Ten Hag on the touchline sees him call for calm in these final few minutes. 

85th min: GOAL! Omonia 2-3 Manchester United

The hosts respond instantly! United are caught sleeping at the back and Panayiotou converts a cross from close range past De Gea. Game on again!

*Video available in UK

*Video available in US

84th min: GOAL! Omonia 1-3 Manchester United

Rashford gets his second! Rashford and Ronaldo lead a counter attack and this time the latter crosses into the back post where the England striker is on hand to tap home.

80th min: Scott McTominay replaces Casemiro.

78th min: Ronaldo hits the post! But quite frankly, he can't believe he's not found the net. Dalot does well to round the goalkeeper and then cuts it back to his team-mate, who passes it first time towards goal but from six yards out it bounces back off the woodwork.

*Video available in US

*Video available in UK

77th min: The Cypriot side aren't giving up. They drive forward again but the final shot if weak and De Get gathers comfortably. Another goal for United though and you feel this tie would be settled.

74th min: Fred is on for Antony. The Brazilian has looked lively all evening but is given a rest. How many minutes until Fred follows Rashford and Martial by scoring then?

71st min: Two more changes for the home side as Loizou and Panayioou come on for Diskerud and Bruno.

68th min: Chance for Omonia! Bruno runs onto a lofted ball and tries to lift it over De Gea with the outside of his foot, but he doesn't get enough power on it and it falls into the goalkeeper's hand.

63rd min: GOAL! Omonia 1-2 Manchester United 

Martial scores with his first play of the ball! What an impact! Rashford pulls off a neat flick into Martial's path who takes a touch to get it out his feet and then drills it past Fabinho.

*Video available in UK

62nd min: Charalambous gets a yellow card.

61st min: Omonia make a double change with Barker and Ansarifard off for Papoulis and Kakoullis. Anthony Martial is on for Fernandes.

60th min: Another big chance for Ronaldo but from close range he fires it into the side netting.

58th min: Another corner for United but nobody connects with Eriksen's cross.

53rd min: GOAL! Omonia 1-1 Manchester United

Seven minutes after coming on Rashford puts his side level. He retrieves a long ball over the top and gets the ball out his feet to curl one into the bottom corner.

*Video available in UK

*Video available in US

52nd min: Fernandes wins a free-kick on the edge of the box but it's straight at the goalkeeper.

48th min: Plenty of United possession in the final third so far but it's not quite clicking. A half chance falls to Eriksen but he can't get the ball under control in time to get a shot away.

46th min: As the second half begins, two changes as Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford are on. Malacia and Sancho off. Ruthless from Ten Hag.

HALF-TIME: Omonia 1-0 Manchester United

45th min: Confidence indeed from Omonia as Charalambos Charalambous hits one from about 40 yards but it goes wide of De Gea's post.

43rd min: A ball is lofted over the top to Ronaldo but he can't control it and Fabinho gathers. Omonia just hoping to get to the break now.

39th min: Omonia have plenty of confidence now and they're enjoying much more possession of the ball. It's going to be a real mental test for United now.

34th min: GOAL! Omonia 1-0 Manchester United 

Oh my! What a counter attack! Tyrell Malacia gets caught out of possession in Omonia's half and three Omonia players break with United outnumbered. Bruno Felipe plays the assist at the perfect time and Karim Ansarifard smashes it past De Gea.  

*Video available in UK

*Video available in US

31st min: Diogo Dalot feeds a through ball into Ronaldo on the right but the striker's cutback goes straight across the box with no Red Devils players in the right position to tap home. United are continuing to apply the pressure.

28th min: Antony cuts in from the right and whips a curled effort that looks destined for the back of the net but Fabinho is at full stretch to tip the ball over. Top save.

27th min: Miletic clatters into the back of Ronaldo with the Portuguese winning a free-kick from 30 yards out. Of course he's taking this one. It sails over the wall but well over the bar too.

22nd min: Think that might be David de Gea's first touch so far as he gets a rare kick.

19th min: Sancho hits the bar as his chipped effort is cleared off the line by Nemanja Miletić. The referee then blows up for a foul against United.

17th min: Antony has to score! But he decides to be unselfish and square it back to Fernandes as the goalkeeper came rushing it out but his pass is behind his teammate. Fernandes looks to him as if to say 'why didn't you just shoot!?'

15th min: And he almost scores a wonderful goal! He picks up the ball in the box, turns his man like he's not even there, and then attempts a cheeky toe poke into the goal but it's blocked. A bright start from the 37-year-old.

14th min: Ronaldo goes up for a header and Héctor Yuste accidentally collides with him in the air. Looks a sore one on the back of Ronaldo's head but he's up on his feet quickly enough.

9th min: Big chance for Ronaldo! Antony feeds the ball into him on the left side of the box and the Portuguese lets it run past him before taking a touch and unleashing a shot from a tight angle but it's straight at the goalkeeper. 

6th min: Bruno Fernandes plays in Jadon Sancho on the left and with little options available the former Borussia Dortmund attacker hits one from distance, but it's dragged well wide.

3rd min: With the match under way, United win an early corner but Christian Eriksen's effort doesn't clear the front post and it's easily cleared.

Pre-Match: Omonia Nicosia vs. Man United

5 mins from KO: Here we go then, the teams are out. Ten Hag has demanded a response from his players following the humiliating weekend defeat. Will they listen? We're about to find out.

10 mins from KO: Over 20,000 fans are expected to be in attendance tonight. The ground is slowly filling up with Omonia supporters eager not to miss the opportunity for their team to take on one of the biggest clubs in world football. They'll be plenty of pictures taken of Ronaldo 

20 mins from KO: If you're sat there thinking 'that guy looks a bit like Neil Lennon' on the touchlines tonight, well that's because it is Neil Lennon! The former Celtic boss has been in charge of the Cypriot side since March 2022. He penned a two-and-a-half year deal and led them to a first trophy under his leadership just a few months alter, winning the Cypriot Cup on penalties.

40 mins from KO: The big news is Ronaldo has been recalled to the starting XI. Erik Ten Hag left him out of the 6-3 drubbing to City, saying he didn't call him off the bench "out of respect." The Dutchman's quotes below certainly caused some controversy...

"I don't bring him on out of respect, it's nothing to do with what's happening for the future or January or next year," Ten Hag said. "I don't see he's unhappy, he's happy, he's training well, he's enjoying it. Everyone is training well, there's a good spirit.

"He's not happy that he wasn't playing on Sunday, but that wasn't the question.

"The question was about his mood when he's around, and he's happy. Of course, he wants to play, he's p*ssed off when he's not playing."

60 mins to KO: The teams are in!

Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro both start for Manchester United.

90 mins to KO: So, how does Group E currently look ahead of tonight's matches? United sit second on three points with Omonia rock bottom and without a win in their opening two games.

United suffered defeat to Real Sociedad, who sit top of the group on six points, in their first outing before bouncing back to beat FC Sheriff last month as Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo both grabbed the goals.

Omonia are currently fourth in the Cypriot first division, while United go into the match off the back of a 6-3 thrashing to rivals Manchester City.

120 mins to KO: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of tonight's Europa League tie between Cypriot side Omonia and Premier League giants Manchester United. We'll be bringing you team news in about an hour's time.

Omonia vs. Manchester United  lineups

Omonia starting lineup (5-3-2): Fabiano (GK) — Lecjaks, Lang, Yuste, Miletic, Matthews — Barker, Charalambous, Diskerud  — Ansarifard, Felipe

Subs: Panagi, Loizou, Papoulis, Kitsos, Zachariou, Uzoho, Panayiotou, Kakoullis, Bezus

Manchester United starting lineup (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia — Casemiro, Eriksen — Fernandes, Antony, Sancho — Ronaldo

Subs: Dubravka, Heaton, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Pellistri, Iqbal, Elanga, Garnacho, Martial, Rashford.

MORE: Man United and another derby mess: Erik ten Hag must fix three problems after defeat to Man City

What time is Omonia vs. Manchester United?

Omonia Nicosia play host to Manchester United at the Tsirio Stadium in Limassol, Cyprus. It kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Thursday, Oct 6.

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date Thu, Oct 6 Thu, Oct 6 Thu, Oct 6 Fri, Oct 7
Time 17:45 BST 12:45 ET 12:45 ET 03:45 AET

How to watch Omonia vs. Manchester United

  UK USA Canada Australia
TV channel BT Sport 1 TUDN - -
Streaming BT Sport website/app Paramount+, ViX+, fuboTV DAZN Stan Sport

UK: BT Sport are the exclusive broadcasters of live Europa League matches. United's trip to Cyprus is on BT Sport 1 and available on the website/app.

USA: Paramount+ and ViX+ will stream the match live in English, while the Spanish-language broadcast is available via TUDN. In the US, Spanish-language coverage of the Europa League is available on fuboTV.

Canada: Every Europa League game streams live on DAZN.

Australia: Every Europa League game streams live on Stan Sport.

Author(s)
Author Photo
Dan Gibbs
Dan is a sub-editor for The Sporting News' UK edition.
soccer
europa-league
Manchester United
Omonia Nicosia
Omonia Nicosia vs Manchester United
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