Manchester United Crush Sabah 4-0 as Mickels Miss Costs Azerbaijani Debutants
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 10
Manchester United Crush Sabah 4-0 as Mickels Miss Costs Azerbaijani Debutants
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 10
Summary
Joy-Lance Mickels missed Sabah’s clearest chance on 39 minutes at 1-0 down, and United quickly turned the opener into a rout in their Champions League group-stage opener.
Matheus Cunha struck first after Patrick Dorgu’s cross, then Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko scored before halftime, with Lisandro Martínez adding the fourth after the break.
Michael Carrick’s strong lineup — including Fernandes, Cunha, Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans — eventually exposed Sabah after the visitors pressed aggressively through the opening 27 minutes.
Sabah, founded only in 2017 and backed by about 500 fans at Old Trafford, were playing the biggest match in the club’s nine-year history after coming through four qualifying rounds.
Valdas Dambrauskas said his side may have overestimated United and lacked courage playing out from the back, but the 4-0 loss still opens a group-stage run featuring Barcelona, Arsenal and Napoli.