Teenage Manchester United striker, Mason Greenwood can’t stop scoring in Europa League if he is called upon. Red Devil boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer gave him another to shine and he repaid the manager’s faith in him with a double against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday at Old Trafford and helped his team secure top spot in Europa League Group L.
United were well off the pace in the first half but came alive in the second as four goals in a devastating 11-minute to blow the Dutch team away. Ashley Young opened the floodgate of goals in the 53rd minute when he drove home Juan Mata’s cross for his first goal since February. the Spaniard also had his name on the score sheet when he converted a penalty to get his first goal of the season.
Minutes later, Greenwood fired home from the edge of the box before producing a fine left-footed finish to end the scoring frenzy. The youngster is now United’s leading scorer in Europe this season. Also, it is the first time the 18-year-old had scored two in a first-team game.
The victory was United’s biggest in Europe since 2016 when they beat another Dutch side, Feyenoord, by the same score. This means that the Red Devils will avoid Benfica, Ajax and Inter Milan in Monday’s last-32 draw.
Speaking after the match, Utd boss Solskjaer praised Greenwood for his performance during the game. He noted that the young striker is one of the players with natural finishing.
He said: “I’ve seen a few good young players. I played with Wayne Rooney, but in terms of natural finishing, Mason is one of the best I’ve seen. He was class. Mason is a natural footballer but the closer he gets to goal, the more dangerous he is. Right foot, left foot, a nightmare for defenders. All he needs to do is develop his heading and then he can be a proper striker.”
With a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Colchester in which they are the overwhelming favourites, Solskjaer’s side will play 19 games in 77 days, which will end with the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.
